Cal State LA Solar Car Team - Solar Eagle

  • 1990: Solar Eagle - GM Sunrayce USA: 4th place.
  • 1990: Solar Eagle - World Solar Challenge: 10rd place.
  • Now on display at Cal State LA.

The Solar Eagle is a world-class, solar powered car designed and built by the Cal State L.A. School of Engineering & Technology students, faculty and staff.

In July, the Solar Eagle placed fourth in the 1,643 mile GM Sunrayce. California's number one solar car finished ahead of 28 other colleges and universities including such prestigious institutions as MIT and Stanford.

The team's out-standing capabilities will be further demonstrated at the November 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia.

Results from the GM Sunrayce Overall finish: Fourth place Daily race results: First place (twice), Second place (once), Third place (3 times)

Solar Eagle was the only car having no mechanical or electrical failures during the 1,643 mile race.

Department of Energy Awards: First place for "Best Artistic Design" ($500), Second place for "Innovation in Power Train Design" ($800), Third place for "Teamwork" ($600)

Society of Automotive Engineers Award: Fifth place for "Engineering Design and Safety"

Other Honors Engineering Excellence Award: Unique Mobility, Inc. The Governor's Energy Award: State of Florida Team Honored by Los Angeles City Council, August 10, 1990 Nationally televised appearance on Into the Night, Starring Rick Dees, August 15, 1990 Team Honored by Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners, August 23, 1990 City of Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley: Commendation Board of Directors, City of Pasadena: Commendation City of Alhambra, Mayor Barbara Messina: Commendation City of Monterey Park, Mayor Judy Chu: Commendation U.S. Senator Pete Wilson: Commendation U.S. Congressman Matthew G. Martinez: Congressional Award

Car Specifications Length: 6 meters Width: 2 meters Height: 1 meter Weight: 459 pounds (without driver) Drag Coefficient: 0.123 Frame: Welded 6061 T6 aluminum alloy tubing (Weight=23 pounds) Body: Carbon fiber/NOMEX composite sandwich Solar panel: Fiberglass/NOMEX composite sandwich Solar cells: 8,945 Spectrolab K7 single-crystal silicon space quality cells Motor: Unique Mobility, Inc. DC brushless motor Batteries: Eagle-Picher silver-zinc batteries; 120 volt nominal buss voltage; 4 kW-hr total capacity at C20 rate

World Solar Challenge Start: Darwin, Australia Finish: Adelaide, Australia Distance: 1,900 miles Date: November 11, 1990 Entries: 40 cars from 9 countries (13 Australia, 11 Japan, 9 United States)

Student Faculty Staff
Derrick Hamilton
Student team leader/Race logistics and strategy		 Richard Roberto, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Adviser and Chief Engineer		 Dan Roberto, Mechanical technician
Chief Machinist/ Mechanical Systems
Richard Benavides
Solar panel assembly		 Raymond B. Landis, Dean of Engineering and Technology
Fund-raising/Public relations		 Mike Obermeyer, Electrical design
Power electronic assembly
Robert Diefenbach
Batteries—Telemetry instrumentation		 Chivey Wu, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Aerodynamics		 Michael Hackleman
Technician Solar panel assembly/System design support
Scott Downer
Lead engineer/ power electronics		 Steve Felszeghy, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Structural analysis/Race strategy		 Elissa Schrader, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Logistical support
Kevin Ear
Solar panel assembly		 Le Tang, Professor of Technology
Power electronics
Chris Enriquez
Driver/Mechanical systems
Ricardo Espinosa
Driver/Mechanical systems
Armando Garcia
Solar panel assembly
Hlda Gomez
Power Electronics Assembly
Nader Lotfy
Batteries/Telemetry instrumentation
Harry Mkhitarian
Motor and controller
Chris Miller
Body fabrication
Kitty Rodden
Aerodynamics
Jeff Silverstone
Chief driver/ Mechanical systems
Gwan The
Driver/Body fabrication
Robert Tsai
Mechanical systems
Suchon Tsaowimonsiri
Mechanical systems

  • World Solar Challenge
    Cal State LA

  • World Solar Challenge
    Australia

  • World Solar Challenge
    Darwin Australia

  • World Solar Challenge
    Australia

Read more about this topic:  Cal State LA Solar Car Team

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