MSXII Objectives

Owned by Devon Copeland
Last updated: Sept 20, 2016 by Lucas Francisco Fryzek (Unlicensed)

Table of Contents

Intro to Race Regulations

Currently we aim to race MSXII in FSGP and ASC 2018. 

WSC 2017

The World Solar Challenge (WSC) is a biennial solar-powered car race which covers 3,022 km through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide. The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations. The race has a 28-year history spanning thirteen races, with the inaugural event taking place in 1987.

We do not intend to go to WSC 2017 but it is important to have an understanding of the WSC regulations. This is important for two reasons. First, the ASC often bases their regulations off of those from the WSC. It is still unknown whether ASC 2018 will have a cruiser class but if they do, the regulations will likely follow WSC regulations very closely. Second, if MSXII performs as successfully as we hope, we may want to enter WSC 2019. 

Major Changes to WSC 2017 Regulations

This section is copied directly from the regulations.

  • The maximum allowable size for cars has been increased to allow greater diversity of design, and provisions made to find synergy with other international events.
  • Challenger solar collector area has been reduced to 4m2 (for silicon PV) half of what was allowed in the first World Solar Challenge in 1987.
  • Cruiser solar collector area is reduced to 5m2 for silicon PV cells, to make it easier to fit a solar collector on a practical car.
  • The apertures of solar reflectors and concentrators will be restricted.
  • Refinements have been made to the requirements for occupant protection and vehicle dynamics. In addition there is a new requirement for mechanical braking on all road wheels. 
  • Energy storage limits have been removed for Cruiser Class, which will be run as a single stage ‘regularity trial’, Success in Cruiser Class will be based on energy efficiency practicality and adherence to time targets.

Cruiser Class Scorring

where E is the team’s energy efficiency score, E' is the highest energy efficiency score of any Cruiser team, P is the team’s practicality score, and P' is the highest practicality score of any team that completed the route and arrived at the Adelaide marshalling area within the target time window. 

where n is the number of times the energy storage system is charged from external sources between the start line and the finish line, and Q is the nominal energy capacity of the energy storage system. 

It is very important to note that this scoring system is drastically different than that of WSC 2015 which was as follows:

where E is the external energy use, T is the time, D is the person-km distance, P is the practicality score, and where E' is the minimum E of any Cruiser Class Finisher, T' is the minimum T of any Cruiser Class Finisher, D' is the maximum D of any Cruiser Class Finisher, and P' is the maximum P of any Cruiser Class Finisher. 

2017's scoring system gives a huge advantage to teams that can carry multiple passengers whereas 2015 places more emphasis on speed. This change in the scoring system is important because it indicates that WSC 2019's scoring system may also undergo drastic changes. 

Other Important Notes

  • "All devices used for solar charging must be carried in the solar car. This includes stands, supports and cables". In the past some teams built elaborate stands to tilt their entire cars on an angle to capture late afternoon and early morning sunlight. This may be less practical if stands must be transported in the solar car. 

Link to Regulations

The latest WSC 2017 Regulations can be found here: WSC 2017 Regulations

FSGP/ASC 2018 

As of September 18, 2016 the ASC has not posted official regulations for 2018. However, a presentation has been posted on their website giving an overview of future regulations: 

Important Notes:

  • The proposed ASC 2018 regulations follow WSC 2017 very closely
  • It sounds like a cruiser class may be considered for ASC 2018 

Link to Regulations

When posted, the ASC 2018 Regulations can be found here: ASC 2018 Regulations

Safety, Illumination, Line of Sight and Signage

RequirementHow we plan to meet this goal?Reference to Regulations
< 15 second driver egress

Electronics, Telemetry and Control

ObjectiveHow we plan to meet this goal?


Performance

Performance MetricTargetHow we plan to meet this goal?Reference to Regulations
Top speed


Turning radius


Efficiency


Practicality Features

One of the ways teams earn points in the cruiser class of WSC is a "practicality" score. These point are awarded by judges for features that contribute to 

  • Ease of access and egress 
  • Occupant space and comfort 
  • Ease of operation (driving and charging)
  • Versatility 
  • Style 
  • Suitability for the declared purpose
  • Dashboard

This is a list of key features that we would like to incorporate into MSXII to make the car more practical:

FeatureConcept Photo / SketchDescription

Charging port


Fully or partially upholstered cabin


Pedals

Image result for car pedals

MSXII will have a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal
Waterproofing

The passenger compartment should be isolated from the rest of the car and waterproofed. Appropriate drainage systems should be added to the car where needed.

Wiring and Electrical Conduits

There should be designated pathways/conduits for all conductors. This should at least be planned out in CAD. If you need inspiration, there is a great reddit thread: Cable Porn: The Art of Tidy Data Centers
Accessibility and maintenance

Some strategic panels of the the car's aerobody should be removable / openable to allow easy access to critical mechanical systems like suspension and steering.
Headroom (for most)

The cabin should be designed such that most team members would be able to drive the car in a race without violating safety regulations. This will be easier to achieve due to the rigid space frame design, which is not susceptible to shrinkage or other defects.

Modular aerobody

To make manufacturing easier, the aerobody should comprise of a number of different interlocking panels (possibly joined by adhesives). This will also make it easier to replace a panel if damages or redo a panel if a layup goes poorly.