Los Altos Academy of Engineering

ADVISORY 2014-2015

The Los Altos Academy of Engineering is a student-run program that offers

high school students opportunities to explore career paths through education,

training in vocational and business skills, hands-on experience, and exposure to

engineering and technology.

MISSION STATEMENT

◼ Robotics▪ First Tech Challenge▪ Mini Urban Challenge

◼ Emerald Coast Electrathon 2014▪ Speed Racer▪ Volt

◼ Oregon Electrathon 2015▪ Speed Racer▪ Volt

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ROBOTICS

2013-2014 Block Party

• Most successful season• Advanced to LA

championship• Strayed away from our plan

that got us there• Learning experience

FIRST TECH CHALLENGE

FIRST TECH CHALLENGE

2014-2015 Cascade Effect

• New experimentation• New team sizes• First qualifier

• Both teams advanced to playoffs, however failed to advance

• Creating a new future• Aiming for consistency

2014

• Advanced to Nationals in Washington D.C. in previous years

• New experimental designs• Strong competition• Not the same success

2015

• Brand new game▪ Level-playing field▪ Awarding originality▪ Changed rules▪ Implementation of Bluetooth

• Hopeful outlook• Competition on March 7

MINI URBAN CHALLENGE

◼ Pensacola, Florida

◼ April 26, 2014

◼ Five Flags Speedway- ½ mile oval loop

EMERALD COAST ELECTRATHON 2014

Speed Racer

◼ 6th place in High School division

◼ 53 laps in first heat◼ 41 laps in second heat

Volt

◼ 12th place in High School division

◼ 43 laps in first heat◼ 10 laps in second heat

EMERALD COAST ELECTRATHON 2014

Speed Racer

◼ First heat ran really well (53 laps)◼ Second Heat (41 laps)

▪ The pedal got stuck and was fixed on full throttle for the rest of the race.

▪ Positive- in our fastest lap we traveled at 50mph, letting us know that our gear ratio was correct

▪ Negative- we ruined one of our battery packs permanently and were unable to run the car for the last 10 minutes of the second heat

EMERALD COAST ELECTRATHON 2014

Volt◼ First heat

▪ Car started off slow, battery voltage and amperage kept dropping▪ Solution- restart the vehicle every time that happened

▪ Chain came off during practice heat because of an almost collision between vehicles◼ Intermission

▪ Replaced the tires and tubes▪ Tires popped right before the start of the second heat, delaying our start

◼ Second Heat▪ Because Volt’s rear wheel had to be completely taken off to replace tires, it ruined

the chain alignment and Volt’s chain kept coming off throughout the second heat

EMERALD COAST ELECTRATHON 2014

◼ Portland International Raceway◼ May 24-25, 2015

OREGON ELECTRATHON 2015

◼Road Course

▪ Short Course

▪ Long Course

OREGON ELECTRATHON 2015

▪ Oregon Electrathon 2015▪ Race two of our vehicles▪ Fundraise $10,000▪ Take __ students to Oregon

CURRENT GOALS

◼ Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine◼ Raced at the Shell Eco-Marathon in 2008◼ Currently being restored◼ New gx200 engine (Weed wacker vs Lawnmower)

HICE

◼ P-Basic Program◼ Will control Fuel Injector◼ Pulses of current

▪ Peak 4 Amps▪ Hold 1.5 Amps▪ Allow the hydrogen to flow through

BASIC STAMP

MECHANICAL TEAMLAAE

LAST YEARS GOALS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

◼ Assemble a newer vehicle “Volt”

◼ Fix any problems with Speed Race

◼ Got both vehicles (Volt & Speed Racer) race ready.

◼ Race in Florida Electrathon for second consecutive year.

SPEED RACER GOALS/CHANGES

◼ Modify the steering to a rack and pinion

◼ Incorporate a freewheel system to the rear

◼ Realign motor and rear wheel

◼ Attend Oregon Electrathon

VOLT’S GOALS/CHANGES

◼ Build a stronger and steadier bumper

◼ Narrow down issue of chain derailing and fixing it (possibly new rims)

◼ Rack and pinion? Problems discovered

◼ Attend Oregon Electrathon

COMPOSITESLAAE

VOLT

◼ Cut the kit composites body to fit the driver

◼ Made a headrest and foam/battery boxes

◼ Built an exterior and interior kill switch holder

HOT WIRE

◼ Made several kits and models

until we got desirable results

◼ Current kit uses a 12-Volt

battery

◼ Used for cutting foam materials

with precision

PLEXIGLASS

◼ Reintroduced the ability to bend plastic using heat

◼ Used this knowledge to make clean cut boxes for IT

CERRITOS COLLEGE

◼ Past relationship with Mr. Price

◼ Able to make a new belly pan for Speed Racer with guidance

◼ Gain further knowledge on composites.

◼ Created a 3D piece of the Scion xB scale model

◼ Plan to make a plug off of the 3D piece

◼ Make a mold off of the plug

SCION XB MOLD

FUTURE PLANS

◼ Making finishing touches to Volt and Speed racer

◼ Collaborate with IT in order to aid in their future competitions

◼ Continue building efficient yet affordable parts for the vehicle

◼ Work with a potentiometer to control the voltage going out for the hot

wire kit

LAAE

ELECTRICAL TEAM

◼ Uses Odyssey PC925 batteries (AGM)

◼ 36volt system◼ 6 AWG double insulated copper wire◼ AXE 4844 mc◼ Scott 48v DC motor (new)

SPEED RACER

◼ Changes▪ New motor▪ Better insulation exposed areas

◼ Goals▪ Change AXE motor controller to SPM▪ Re-install micro switch to meet regulations▪ Implement HUD for driver▪ Research Odyssey replacement

SPEED RACER GOALS/CHANGES

◼ Uses PowerSonic___ FR (AGM)◼ 24volt system◼ 6 AWG double insulated copper

wire◼ Alltrax SPM mc◼ Scott 48v DC motor

VOLT

◼ Goals▪ Solve issues with startup▪ Implement HUD for driver▪ Locate extra set of Power Sonics▪ Calibrate throttle

◼ Changes▪ Fixed wire placement

VOLT GOALS/CHANGES

◼ Automated communications process by which measurements are made and other data collected and transmitted for monitoring.

◼ We say it is simply data acquisition through electrical current.

WHAT IS TELEMETRY?

◼ Acquire real time information about the vehicle (Voltage, Amperage, and Speed)

◼ Onboard computer collect the information and send to our laptop in the pit stop

◼ Measure efficiency of batteries, and help driver to adjust load on the pack

WHY DO WE NEED TELEMETRY?

◼ Programmed Raspberry Pi to display information given to it.

◼ Motor Controller’s software is Windows based, while the Pi’s software is Linux based

WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO USE IT?

◼ Instead, we are building a micro-computer that will be windows based, and run our program

◼ Uses Power Sonic __ (AGM)◼ 24volt system◼ 6 AWG double insulated copper wire◼ Curtis Motor controller◼ Solenoid Actuated Iso-Switch◼ Refinished Metal trim

SIDE PROJECT- THE HOG

LAAE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

• Helps assist with the technological needs of the other teams

• Handles our website • www.lasv.org

• Competes in robotic competitions• Mini Urban Challenge• First Tech Challenge

• Working on setting up a network

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/ROBOTICS

LAAE

DESIGN TEAM

OBJECTIVES

▪ Create and print out a mini car mold

▪ Create a chassis using solidworks

▪ Practice using the wind tunnel

▪ Gather data of resulting test to improve shape of the car

DESIGN PROGRAMS

The Two programs we use today are AutoCAD and Solidworks.

We use AutoCAD to generate Manufacturing blueprints of multiple pieces that are then put into our electric vehicles.

Solidworks on the other hand allows us to create 3D molds of future cars that is then printed out using our 3D printer.

2014-2015 PROGRESS

● Car mold completed

● Composites team is planning to use the 3D printed mold to make a composites body

◼ Wind tunnel tests are still being performed

◼ Use model cars to test the coefficient of drag

2014-2015 PROGRESS

LAAE

PUBLIC RELATIONS

◼ Creates our newsletters◼ Update LAAE’s social media accounts◼ Organize fundraisers

WHAT DOES OUR PR TEAM DO?

◼Adopt-an-Engineer▪ Requesting a minimum of a $10 donation

▪ Funds put toward to Oregon Electrathon 2015

▪ Goal is to have engineers go to Oregon without spending any out-of-pocket money

FUNDING

◼A fundraising program that is hosted by Los Altos Academy of Engineering and Irwindale Speedway

LA FUND RACING

◼Members of LAAE will sell “Adventure 20” tickets for $150 each, which usually sell for $399

◼For each ticket that we sell, we get $50 for our program

WHAT DO WE DO IN THIS FUNDRAISER?

◼A racing package where the participant gets to drive 20 laps around Irwindale Speedway without a pace car and no instructor in the vehicle

◼The participant will receive a full safety instruction course from professional racing officials and drivers

◼They will also be suited up in full racing gear and wired in for in-car communication

◼However, only people ages 18+ can use the tickets

WHAT IS “ADVENTURE 20”?

LAST YEAR’S BUDGET

◼Nine person team◼Mr. Richter, Mr. Hess,

Mrs. Eng

Estimated Cost

Actual Cost

Airfare $4,800 $5,975

Hotel $350/night $1,500

Food $1,300 $250

Fuel $2,500 $2,000

Rental Car $300 $200

Total $9,250 $9,945

BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR

• Bring 10 students to Oregon

• Fundraise $10,000

Estimated Cost Actual Cost

Airfare $4,000

Hotel $400/night

Food $1,300

Fuel $2,500

Rental Car $300

Total $9,700

LAAE

THANK YOU!