University of Toronto Human Powered Vehicle: Difference between revisions
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University of Toronto Human Powered Vehicle (edit)
Revision as of 15:23, 25 September 2019
, 25 September 2019→Land Vehicles: added content
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[[File:Valkyrie.jpg|500px|the Valkyrie leaning tricycle at ASME HPVC 2014]] [[File:etaCatch.jpg|500px|The Eta speedbike at WHPSC 2014]] | [[File:Valkyrie.jpg|500px|the Valkyrie leaning tricycle at ASME HPVC 2014]] [[File:etaCatch.jpg|500px|The Eta speedbike at WHPSC 2014]] | ||
=== 2014 - 2015 === | |||
Again working towards a more practical vehicle design, the team came up with a partially-faired lowracer - a recumbent bike with very little frontal area. The design included several novel features, including an ill-fated carbon leaf spring suspension system. | |||
The 2015 ASME competition was a mixed experience. The new Viteza design proved less versatile than expected, and the suspension system introduced unanticipated instabilities. Regardless, the team scored well in Innovation and won 1st place in the Design event. | |||
During the summer term, several members of HPVDT undertook to construct an updated version of the Eta speedbike, to be called Eta Prime. While not completed in time for WHPSC 2015, the new speedbike project made excellent progress. Among the modifications made were a lighter fairing, a stiffer frame, and an updated electronics package. | |||
Concurrently with work on the new speedbike, HPVDT undertook to design and build a human-powered submarine with the goal of smashing existing records for both speed and endurance. The project began with a feasibility study followed by extensive research into hydrodynamics, SCUBA technology, and safety systems. By the end of 2015, all major design decisions had been made and work was progressing towards finalization of the hydrodynamic shape. | |||
[[File:Viteza.jpg|500px|Viteza at ASME HPVC 2015]] [[File:Eta Prime Outer Shell.JPG|500px]] [[File:CM4_2.JPG|500px| Axios submarine rendering during the early design phase]] | |||
=== 2015 - 2016 === | |||
While continuing work on Axios and Eta Prime, HPVDT designed an improved version of Vortex called Cyclone. Cyclone features a more sophisticated drivetrain structure, retractable landing gear for low speed stability, and improved composites techniques, resulting in a lighter vehicle. The vehicle was not completed in time for ASME 2016, but was completed and raced at the Northbrook Velodrome in July of that year. The vehicle suffered from poor drivetrain reliability and insufficiently stiff landing legs. | |||
Through the summer, work on Eta prime was completed and the team raced it for the first time at WHPSC 2016. At the same event, former team founder Todd Reichert set a new absolute world record of 144.17 km/h (89.59 mi/h) in Eta. | |||
=== 2016 - 2017 === | |||
Evan Bennewies and Alan Pettit led the ASME project to build another iteration of Vortex called Tempest. It refines the concept of Cyclone explored the previous year, featuring reinforced landing legs, a quick release drivetrain assembly, and compatibility with the very fast Michelin blue eco-marathon tires. The vehicle competed at ASME HPVC 2016, and was thereafter used at HPRA races and for training new riders. Though the vehicle improved upon the reliability of Cyclone, it never reached the same consistency as Vortex. | |||
The team refines Eta prime over the summer and gets it in good working order while Calvin familiarizes himself with its handling. The team also restores Bluenose and sends both vehicles to Battle Moutain. At WHPSC 2017, Calvin reaches a maximum speed of 127.62 km/h (79.30 mi/h), the highest speed of the competition. Most of the other team members in attendance also each attain personal bests. | |||
=== 2017 - 2018 === | |||
The team pursues a fully faired recumbent tricycle with external wheel pods called Arbiter for ASME under project director Bruce Hu. The design features a tadpole configuration with two external front wheels with co-moving wheel fairings, steered by a four bar linkage. For the first time in team history, the vehicle is test ridden before the competition. Unfortunately, the vehicle suffered a mechanical malfunction in the right steering rod during the first heat of the Women's drag event and the damage prevents the team from competing in either drag event. However the team works through the night and the vehicle is once again functional the next morning and finishes the endurance event in 4th place. | |||
In May, Calvin resigns as captain and Bill Kong replaces him. For World Speed Challenge the team sends Eta Prime and Bluenose again where Calvin finally earns his long awaited 80 mph hat and finishes the competition in second place overall. | |||
=== 2018 - 2019 === | |||
For ASME, the team builds the partially faired upright bike Zephyr. The design features front and rear fairings inline with the rider's torso, significant use of prepreg carbon, streamlined frame and wheel sections, and a wide range of positional adjustment. The vehicle was again tested and ride-logged before competition and performed smoothly throughout competition. Zephyr took first place in both Men's and Women's drag events and dominated the Endurance event, lapping the second place vehicle seven times. | |||
Calvin starts a new project for a two seater speedbike, Titan. The design is similar in many ways to a scaled up Eta prime. The vehicle is not quite finished in time to leave for WHPSC but the team brings it along and finishes it by Wednesday night. On Friday night Calvin and Evan push Titan to 120.27 km/h (74.73 mi/h) and set a new world tandem record. | |||
== New Direction == | == New Direction == | ||