Host: University of Bradford, UK

Dates: 11/03/2012 - 24/03/2012

The overall aim of the "Powering the Future with Zero Emission and Human Powered Vehicles" 2012 Intensive Program (IP) is for the students, in groups, to produce an engineering specification for a zero emissions single-seater vehicle. The specification is to take the form of a solid model and report comprising a bill of materials, costing and virtual vehicle ‘prototype’ dynamic models that fully justify the design choices made.

The program of tuition is separated into three main themes and comprises: Engineering a Specification, Drivetrain Dynamics and Suspension and Steering Dynamics. Each of the sub-topics of the Drivetrain Dynamics and Suspension and Steering Dynamics themes is focussed on a particular vehicle subsystem.  The aim is to present the students with enough background information on each to be able to make meaningful use of, or create for themselves a Simulink dynamic model of each. The models will be used for virtual experimentation to assist the students in making engineering choices about their vehicle designs. The Simulink models will be assembled together to create a virtual dynamic vehicle. Each of the groups will be responsible for assembling and parameterising their virtual vehicles in preparation for a virtual race. Throughout the IP students are to be encouraged to take initiative in updating their solid models to refine their designs as they learn more about each of the vehicle subsystems.