Momentum - March 2018 - 19

SAE

NEWS

STUDENTS GET THE SPOTLIGHT AT
SAE CAROLINA SECTION MEETING
SEVEN SAE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAPTERS
from the Southeast participated in the SAE Carolina
Section's "2018 Collegiate Student Chapters
Presentation Night" held Feb. 1 at Greenville Technical
College's Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI).
In addition to showing off their SAE Collegiate Design
Series (CDS) vehicles and giving presentations on them,
they toured the CMI and were treated to dinner there.
"The event tonight was a great success, only due to
our hard-working students and the teams making the
time to come to Student Night, as well as sponsors and
judges-everybody who the supported event," said SAE
Carolina Section Student Engagement Manager John
Driscoll.
The highlight of the event-sponsored by Clemson
University's SAE Student Chapter and its Department of
Mechanical Engineering-was the student presentation
contest. The Georgia Southern University Baja SAE team
noted that it has changed the brake assembly so there
are fewer components, with no degradation in brake
performance. Other engineering goals the Baja SAE team
is pursuing include:
* Use camber gain to aid low-speed cornering
* Aid low-speed maneuverability by implementing an
Ackermann of 118%
* Choose lower steering rack ratio for quicker turning
response for driver
* Improve vehicle overall top speed while maintaining
sufficient torque
One of the main goals of the Georgia Southern
Formula SAE team is to reduce weight by using
composite parts, including a carbon-fiber intake. Another
goal is reduce parts count; body parts are being more
than halved, from 18 to 6.
Clemson University's Formula SAE team talked about
changing its wiring harness using a Solidworks feature
while the Baja team focused on low camber gain on
their suspension.
North Carolina State University's Formula SAE team
made its own micro controller and slip angle sensor.
Because of binding issues in their car last year, the team
is decreasing the steering ratio.
The only Formula SAE Electric team was from
University of North Carolina-Asheville (NC A&T). Team
members discussed motor improvements, vehicle weight
and battery capacity. They went from a dual motor to a
single motor.
A young team, the University of North CarolinaCharlotte Formula SAE squad highlighted the
importance of maintaining focus and improving all

MOMENTUM

Photo credit: Chandler Lunny, Clemson Formula SAE

Members of the Clemson University SAE Collegiate Chapter take questions from the
audience.

Shown presenting are members of the North Carolina State SAE Collegiate Chapter.
aspects of the car. For the university's Baja SAE team, the goals are to
reduce gear ratio and vehicle weight.
Duke University's Formula SAE team is another very young one
whose goal is to build up the team and improve all aspects of the car.
The Baja SAE team from North Carolina A&T showed the various
components that help reduce car weight. Lower steering angle, smaller
turning radius and low camber gain are additional goals.
Carolina Section members served as judges of the presentation
contest. Each team received $1,400 from the section, and another
$1,200 was distributed to the teams that finished in the top three in
each CDS competition type. In Formula SAE and Baja SAE, the results
were as follows:
Formula SAE
1-North Carolina State University
2-Georgia Southern University
3-Clemson University

BAJA SAE
Norther Carolina A&T
Clemson University
Georgia Southern University

UNC-Asheville was the only chapter to present on Formula Electric,
and NC A&T was the only chapter to present on the SAE Aero Design
and SAE AutoDrive Challenge.
By Patrick Ponticel, MOMENTUM editor, based largely on information provided by
Christian Manzanares, a sophomore mechanical engineering major at Georgia Southern
University who is a member of the Formula SAE body and frame team.

March 2018 19
Momentum - March 2018

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