World Solar Challenge: HP helps design a car powered by sunlight

Regulations have been tightened up for the World Solar Challenge 2007, requiring far-reaching changes to the car design. The mother-of-pearl Nuna 4 has a radical new design that brings the car closer to real-world driving. The cars compete on public roads and race officials have imposed speed limits and large time penalties for going over the limit.

 

The changes are a reminder that this is a challenge and not just a race. The challenge is to create and refine super-efficient energy technologies that will become tomorrow’s practical transportation. For instance, the driver now has to sit upright, adding a lot of drag. So the previous flat design had to be modified to create a solar-powered car that looks more like a ‘real’ car. Computer generated 3D drawings for the body of the Nuna revealed at the design stage how the driver, car and sections would relate to one another.

 

The HP Compaq Workstation Notebook PCs and simulation software handled the heavy duty calculations for achieving the ideal aerodynamic shape.

The suspension, braking system, steering mechanism, wheels and electric motor were all designed using the notebooks.

 

The solar panel also had to be reduced in size in order for the car to take on the shape of a more conventional vehicle. In addition, the dimensions and shape of the steering wheel were set in advance by the race organisers.

The Nuna4 weighs just over 200 kilos.

As the car has to be as light as possible, to allow for speed, the strength both of the various parts and the car as a whole were simulated on the computer.  The powerful HP Compaq Workstation Notebook PCs are of inestimable value in being able to calculate this in real time. A model of the car in motion is the basis for these calculations. Measuring and regulating systems are also simulated for the cruise control.

During the race, these computers will be used in the real-time communication between the driver of Nuna 4 and the team car following, as well as to calculate the ideal driving strategy, which is influenced by external factors such as changing weather conditions.

“A notebook you can always rely on is the basis for a perfect, innovative design,” according to Nuon Solar team leader Stefan Roest. And last but not least the driving strategy for the Nuna 4 is determined using a genetic algorithm.

Through its sponsorship, HP is underlining the importance it attaches to innovation and the environment.

From product design to our own operations, HP leads by example, inspiring customers, governments, communities and other organizations to make a commitment to creating a more energy-efficient environment.

HP’s goal is to reduce our global energy use 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2010.