The third part of the R&D involved each group member creating an AEV design sketch. After all group members shared their sketches and ideas, they created a final design to build off of.The following are the group members’ sketches and ideas.
This design was primarily based on minimizing wind resistance via putting all of the parts very close together. By putting all of the parts in-line, and having the only protrusions be the motors, wind would have very little surface area to apply force to. The aerodynamic properties of this AEV design would give it a good speed advantage.
Figure 2: Hannah Design:
This design was drawn with the idea of making the AEV light and try and enhance the AEV to have the least amount of air resistance possible to effect on it. By making the AEV skinny and long, the amount of air resistance hitting the AEV when it goes down the track is minimized since there’s not a lot of area/length for the air to push against the AEV as its moving. As a result the energy efficiency will be higher because less energy will be needed to move the AEV as it would be if there was a great amount of air resistance acting on the AEV.
Figure 3: Sydney Design:
This design was drawn with the idea increasing aerodynamics of the the AEV. The pointed nose will reduce air resistance, along with the length and minimal build. The design is compact and covers all motors and wires. Less surface area will also reduce air resistance. This design also slightly increases the visual appeal of the AEV. Unfortunately this build would also increase the mass of the AEV, and may cause it to be slower.
Figure 4: James Design:
This design was drawn with the thought of the AEV’s weight. For the AEV to effectively complete the tasks it is assigned to do, something that would allow to completion of these tasks to be easier would be making the AEV lightweight. This design is meant to use the smallest and lightest materials at our disposal in order to meet that criteria. This would allow the AEV to move more freely with less resistance on its motors from the weight of the AEV. Another positive that would possibly come out of this design would be the aerodynamics of this AEV which would also decrease the resistance to the AEV even more as it is moving along the track.
Figure 5: Group Design:
This sketch is the final design created by Group G. This AEV was created by taking all the best ideas from each group member and combining it into one AEV. This AEV is not only aerodynamic but also light as it does not have any more components included in it except for the essential tools needed for the AEV to complete the tasks at hand. The simplicity of the design allows this AEV to work the way it needs to and also can be looked at and fixed easily if a road block were to ever occur.