University of Michigan Solar Car Team
Encyclopedia
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor
. It is the most successful solar car
team in North America
, having won the North American Solar Challenge (NASC) six times (out of a possible ten) and is currently the defending three time Champion. The team has also placed third in the World Solar Challenge
(WSC) four times. Six of its former vehicles are on display in museums in the United States
, including the Henry Ford Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry
in Chicago
, and the Boston Museum of Science.
and competed in 14 major races. Although it draws heavily on undergraduate students from the College of Engineering
, students from any academic discipline
or year of study are allowed to join the team. Students have also come from the College of LS&A
, the Ross School of Business
, and the School of Art & Design
.
In 1990, the team's first car, Sunrunner, finished in first place in the inaugural GM Sunrayce USA, and third place overall (first place in Student category) in the 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Core team members of the 1990 team included Paula Finnegan, David Noles, Chetan Maini, David Bell, Jef Pavlat, Andy Swiecki, Chris Gregory, and many more.
The second generation team built its car, Maize & Blue, and competed in Sunrayce 93 (the predecessor to the North American Solar Challenge) finishing in first place in the national race, and 11th in the World Solar Challenge
.
After 1993's races, all projects have run on a 2-year cycle. During those two years, the team is typically anywhere from 100 to 200 (or more) students. The vast majority of these students volunteer their time freely, although in the past a small percentage opt to receive credit via the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
(or UROP). A race crew of approximately 20 students is selected to race the vehicle in competition. These students' function is similar to that of a pit crew in professional auto racing
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. It is the most successful solar car
Solar car racing
Solar car racing refers to competitive races of electric vehicles which are powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car . The first solar car race was the Tour de Sol in 1985 which led to several similar races in Europe, USA and Australia...
team in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, having won the North American Solar Challenge (NASC) six times (out of a possible ten) and is currently the defending three time Champion. The team has also placed third in the World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers 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 although some are fielded by high schools...
(WSC) four times. Six of its former vehicles are on display in museums in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including the Henry Ford Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and the Boston Museum of Science.
Composition and history
Founded in 1989 by Bill Kaliardos, an undergraduate student in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team is one of the largest and most successful student projects at the University. The inaugural "1990" team, which formed in 1989, was eventually managed by Susan Fancy, with Professor and Dean Gene Smith serving as the team's Faculty Advisor. Gene Smith was also Advisor for many other U-M Solar Car Teams to follow. The teams have built ten solar carsSolar car racing
Solar car racing refers to competitive races of electric vehicles which are powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car . The first solar car race was the Tour de Sol in 1985 which led to several similar races in Europe, USA and Australia...
and competed in 14 major races. Although it draws heavily on undergraduate students from the College of Engineering
University of Michigan College of Engineering
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is the engineering unit of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. With an enrollment of 5,514 undergraduate and 2,646 graduate students as of 2009, the College of Engineering is one of the premier engineering schools in the United States...
, students from any academic discipline
Academic discipline
An academic discipline, or field of study, is a branch of knowledge that is taught and researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined , and recognized by the academic journals in which research is published, and the learned societies and academic departments or faculties to...
or year of study are allowed to join the team. Students have also come from the College of LS&A
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
The University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is the liberal arts and sciences unit of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Established in 1841 with seven students and two teachers, the college is currently the largest unit at U-M in terms of the number of students...
, the Ross School of Business
Ross School of Business
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business is the business school of the University of Michigan. Numerous publications have ranked the Ross School of Business' Bachelor of Business Administration , Master of Business Administration and Executive Education programs among the top in the country and the...
, and the School of Art & Design
University of Michigan School of Art & Design
The University of Michigan School of Art & Design , located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in art and design. Established as an independent unit in 1974, A&D is one of 19 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan...
.
In 1990, the team's first car, Sunrunner, finished in first place in the inaugural GM Sunrayce USA, and third place overall (first place in Student category) in the 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Core team members of the 1990 team included Paula Finnegan, David Noles, Chetan Maini, David Bell, Jef Pavlat, Andy Swiecki, Chris Gregory, and many more.
The second generation team built its car, Maize & Blue, and competed in Sunrayce 93 (the predecessor to the North American Solar Challenge) finishing in first place in the national race, and 11th in the World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers 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 although some are fielded by high schools...
.
After 1993's races, all projects have run on a 2-year cycle. During those two years, the team is typically anywhere from 100 to 200 (or more) students. The vast majority of these students volunteer their time freely, although in the past a small percentage opt to receive credit via the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program provides funding and/or credit to undergraduate students who volunteer for faculty-mentored research projects pertaining to all academic disciplines at universities such as Boston University, the University of California, Irvine, the Massachusetts...
(or UROP). A race crew of approximately 20 students is selected to race the vehicle in competition. These students' function is similar to that of a pit crew in professional auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
.
Vehicles by Year
- 1990: Sunrunner - Driven by Paula Finnegan and David Noles for GM Sunrayce: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place. On permanent display at The Henry FordThe Henry FordThe Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...
. - 1993: Maize & Blue - Sunrayce USA: 1st place; WSC: 11th place. On permanent display at the Museum of Science and IndustryMuseum of Science and Industry (Chicago)The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
in Chicago. - 1995: Solar Vision - GM Sunrayce: DNF (did not finish). On permanent display at the Great Lakes Science CenterGreat Lakes Science CenterThe Great Lakes Science Center is a museum and educational facility in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States.The center's exhibits focus on helping visitors to understand science, technology, and their interdependence with the environment. Many of the exhibits document the features of the natural...
. - 1997: Wolverine - GM Sunrayce: 6th place.
- 1999: MaizeBlaze - GM Sunrayce: 17th place; WSC: 9th place. On permanent display at the Boston Museum of Science.
- 2001: M-Pulse - ASC: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place. On display at the Peterson Automotive Museum
- 2003: Spectrum - ASC: DNQ (did not qualify)
- 2005: Momentum - NASC: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place.
- 2007: Continuum - WSC: 7th place in the Challenge class after recovering from a crash on the first day of racing.
- 2008: Continuum - NASC: 1st place.
- 2009: Infinium - WSC: 3rd place.
- 2010: Infinium - ASC: 1st place.
- 2011: Quantum - WSC: 3rd place.
Publications
The team has been featured in the following local, national, and international media:- IEEE SpectrumIEEE SpectrumIEEE Spectrum is a magazine edited by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE's description of it is:IEEE Spectrum began publishing in January 1964 as a successor to Electrical Engineering...
: "Sun Kings Cross the Outback." G. Zorpette, Feb 2002, pp 40–46. - Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
- MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
(2005) 1,2, 3 - NHRANational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
article (2006): Grubnic compares kinetics with the U. of Michigan solar car team - Cars.com
- Russian Automobile magazine
- Lakeshore Weekly News
- U-M News Service
- Popular Mechanics
- SAE International (April 2010)
- The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/automobiles/SOLAR.html
- Wired http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/04/university-of-michigan-solar-car/
- Discovery Channel http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/#clip472968 (The Solar Car portion starts at 8:40)