1997 SolaRaider on schedule for June showdown in Indy

New! June 3

MURFREESBORO - The 1997 model of the Middle Tennessee State University Solaraider is right on schedule, and testing should begin around the first of the year.

MTSU engineering students are building the solar-powered car for entry into Sunrayce '97, an 11-day cross-country race from Indianapolis to Golden, Colorado, that will pit university teams throughout the nation against one another is a showdown of design, creativity, and endurance.

MTSU is the only university in Tennessee entered in the event.

Sunrayce is a biennial event sponsored primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, and General Motors, along with several other companies. The project's purpose is to provide hands-on experience to young engineers who will enter the work force and contribute to the strength and competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry in the area of technology and increased efficiency.

"Sunrayce is a opportunity for our students to apply their training in a team concept toward a product," said Dr. Earl Keese, dean of Basic and Applied Sciences. "It means tremendous publicity for our program and the university.

MTSU first entered Sunrayce in 1995 and placed amoung the top 30 teams but failed to pass the final screening due to a braking problem. MIT took first place that year.

Team members say the new Soloraider will be lighter, sleeker, stronger, and better designed thanks to improved technology.

"I think there's more planning and forethought to the project this time," said Ed Drumm, one of the team members. "We have better control of the project and the schedule."

Teammate Jeff Jorge said the greatest challenge was that "we had to design the car from the outside to the inside. We had to get a concept of what the aerodynamics would be, then input all the components. We've made a lot of modifications."

Dr. Basavaptna Sridhara, a faculty advisor on the project, said he hopes to begin road testing the car in January of next year, some of which will take place on campus. Preliminary qualifications will be held in April. Cars that pass muster will advance to the scrutineering process in Indianapolis just prior to the race.

"We need more team members, especially in the areas of electricity and electronics," emphasized Dr. Saleh Sbenaty, who is also serving as faculty advisor in those specific areas. "Students don't need to have expertise right away. We need volunteers who can give some time to the project, especially as we get nearer to the deadline. All they need to do is contact us."

The 1997 Solaraider will be 19 feet long and 6 1/2 feet wide and will weigh approximately 850 to 900 pound, according to Sridhara, much lighter than the 1995 Solaraider which weighed in at a whopping 1,300 pounds. The car will cost approximately $48,000 to build, and cash contributions especially are welcome.

"We already received $3,000 from Saturn, which we really appreciate," Sridhara said, "We also received about $700 from the fall phonathon." Sridhara said the team also received an award of $2,000 from Sunrayce headquarters as a result of a proposal they submitted last summer, which was matched by the university

Anyone interested in getting involved in the Solaraider should call the department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies at 898-2776. To contribute to the project through the MTSU Foundation, person should call 898-2502, or e-mail to solardr@frank.mtsu.edu.