Bob is our first generation solar vehicle.
Representing the late Bob Westgate, Bob
Westgate was the proud principal of the
DDSLC (Dr. Doug Sears Learning
Center). He was an important figure to
Temple City, and loved by many for his
funny personality, gaining him the
nickname Hawaiian Bob. Reflecting that,
our car name is presented in a Hawaiian
inspired font.
Being a first year team came with a lot of pit falls, but also lots of hurrah moments. Through hundreds of hours, and many late nights the team was able to complete scruiteering and qualify for the 2024 Solar Car Challenge. After over 293 laps and 457 miles traveled at Texas Motor Speedway, we are ranked 2nd nationally in our division!
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The most important skill I have learned and applied is how to be an effective leader. Real world experience can not be replaced any amount of learning theory.
This year I learned so much from being a part of this team. I learned how to fabricate bars and put together suspension and steering parts. Also, I feel like I’ve shared my thoughts on certain designs such as the body and frame. All in all, I am so grateful to have been a member of this amazing team.
I learned many skills and about different car components and how they work.
Throughout my year at Heliotech, I had the opportunity to learn from welding and lathe work to various other machining techniques. I was also able to become familiar with the mechanisms and workings of the solar car during our build. I cherish the experiences and the people I became friends with along the way.
I learned many things this year including the use of different machines and tools, along with various techniques. These skills helped me take apart and create new parts for the solar car.
Learning from the many experts in their field I experienced what it is like to be thrown into a professional environment. I learned how a car works on the mechanical side of things.
I learned a lot of things not just limited to my position as a mechanical member with notching, welding, and all the thought that goes into designing the chassis, suspension, and steering, but also other things outside of my subteam like soldering and making the carbon fiber shell.
I learned how to research, design and reiterate on CAD softwares, and fabricate many complex mechanical parts such as the suspension, wheel mounting and alignment, brakes, pedals, and steering. I also learned to have better foresight when designing to easily incorporate other systems instead of having to add on and modify parts.
The Solar Car Challenge is a high pressure race environment that taught me to think clearly in times of stress. Leading HelioTech has also taught me more than just how to draw up wire diagrams and how electrical systems worked, it taught me all the bureaucratic processes involved in such a big project.
This year, in addition to the knowledge I’ve gained in the electrical and industrial engineering fields, I have learned the importance of hard work and commitment to your team. You really get out whatever you put into Helio Tech, so it has been a great experience to give my all for the team and see our collective hard work result in our beautiful first-year solar car.
This year, I learned about electrical engineering while furthering soft skills such as teamwork, adaptation, and analysis. Being able to put everything I learned towards the car was an invaluable experience demonstrating that those learned skills are applicable beyond the classroom.
This year, I gained skills in designing electrical systems and schematics to ensure our solar car runs smoothly. I also learned how to physically build the car through wiring, soldering, and designing parts with CAD software. At Texas, I refined my troubleshooting abilities, allowing me to quickly identify and resolve issues on the spot.
I gained confidence and learned to put together the main functional block diagrams of the solar car system. I learned to build the HV contactor box, wire the motor traction control, schematics entry, Arduino coding, and battery pack selection. I have gained valuable knowledge on how the overall solar car works in a complete system.
I learned a lot about electrical engineering and used it to create our solar array. I also learned a lot about the time and effort it takes to make a competitive car.
I learned about solar panels, the MPPT, carbon layup, and much more. Through the process of learning all that I can about building the Solar Car, I also learned about teamwork and working towards a goal with others.
My experience with the team has been a fruitful and memorable one. I learned more about solar panels while gaining insight on other aspects of the car. Overall, it’s undeniable that this team has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and gain more knowledge.
Not only did I learn many new technical and math skills, such as soldering, wiring solar panels, and calculating irradiance, I also learned how to efficiently work in a team and form tight-knit relationships with other people. They helped me contribute my efforts to the team throughout the year and will be prominent in my life for years to come.
I learned how to work hard and also to manage my time. I think these are two very important things to learn for the future.
I learned how to work with a large group over an extended amount of time, which entailed confusion and conflict at times. I also learned how to use a number of tools and processes that were involved in mold making and carbon fiber. In the end, and most importantly, I learned was how to have fun in a high stress environment.
I learned to use CFD software and used it to analyze vehicle aerodynamics. I also gained more knowledge on composite materials and the process in forming them into a usable part.
By being in HelioTech this year, I learned about how to perform (carbon fiber) layups (as well as shaping, cutting, sanding, etc.) and make molds. I also learned how to model using Fusion 360 and source materials.
This year I learned various processes such as carbon fiber layup and mold making. I participated in both of these processes and performed tasks such as sanding and applying vinyl.
This year I delved into the world of composites, learning about materials like carbon fiber and resin. We created the mold and shell of the car and greatly improved the car’s aerodynamics and weight. Being in Composites taught me things like layups, hot wires, sanding, etc.
This year I’ve learned how to communicate with companies and establish relationships with people within the city. I also learned how to actively participate in community events.
Through a combination of fundraising efforts, cold emailing, and hosting crowdfunding events, I learned how to finance, fundraise, and budget large sums of money. I also got an understanding of good marketing strategies, through web design, Adobe Illustrator, news coverage, and social media engagement.
