Drivetrain Update

The back of the UCR-01

This week, we sat down with Derek Unterberger, our Drivetrain sub-team lead, to review the latest progress on the UCR-02’s cooling system. With the team working tirelessly to design it from the ground up, Derek shared key updates on their efforts and challenges. The most significant reason we have this cooling system is to ensure the motor and motor controller remain in a safe temperature range throughout all events during the June competition.

One of the most essential engineering principles for the cooling system is heat transfer, where the goal is to dissipate heat generated by these components as efficiently as possible. If the electrical components get too hot, they don’t perform optimally, which potentially leads to the failure of the components.

One of the team's priorities is considering the ambient temperature in Michigan. The race track’s black asphalt makes for a hot afternoon at the competition, and this needs to be considered during the design process.

Derek explained that one of the most challenging aspects of this project is trying to develop simulations that would model the heat transfer from the radiators. He further explained that this can get very complicated as many engineering principles are at play, including heat transfer and fluid mechanics in the time domain. However, he said the project was very exciting for both himself and his team because, for the first time, they get to see all the engineering principles they had learned in class, putting their theoretical practices into real-world applications.

Specifically, Derek wants to thank Noah Elsayed, who is on his team, for spearheading the design of the cooling system for the UCR-02. His work has created a foundation for us to reference for years to come. Overall, Derek is excited to see the car come together in June.