PowPowPowerWheels
Goal: To build the fastest, most raceable Power Wheels Ever!
Specific Requirements
- Speed not important
- Maneuverability is important
- Mechanical issue
- Acceleration (torque) is important
- Electrical issue
- Battery properties
- Power stage properties
- Losses
- Motor issue
- Peak torque, rated torque, stall torque
- Kt
- System issue
- Static/breakaway friction
- Load inertia
- Electrical issue
- Reliability
- Overheating issues
- Heat Limiting
- Motor issues
- Saturation
- Demagnetization
- Burnouts (not enough traction)
- Traction Control
- Controlled acceleration ramp or velocity profile
- Tires
- Overheating issues
Rules
- $500 limit (enforced by a $100 buyout clause)
- Rubber "knobby" tires
- ATV or Lawnmower wheels
- 36V power source _max_
Master ToDo
(cross off when each finished)
- Get rules from the organizers and post link here ( Pumping Station: One, i3 Detroit, ??? )
- We do not have to participate in both events, but you can't win the series title unless you do
- First event is in Kansas City in June
- Next event is at Maker Faire Detroit in July
- Get confirmation from HackPGH members for which dates they can attend
- Maybe attending
- Ed
- MattS
- Mandy
- Jeff
- Sayan
- ??? add yourself ???
- Confirmed attending
- ??? add yourself ???
- Maybe attending
- Get on race mailing list and try to make sure the rules don't get lame
- Jim has said Ed "on the list" but it doesn't seem to actually exist so far
- Build Chassis for Easy Car
- Frame - going to buy mostly complete gokart off craigslist ($50)
- Rear end - needs to be redone for electric drive
- Front end - already on frame
- Chassis (plastic Powerwheel shell)
- build a proper seat
- Build electronics for Easy Car
- Motor
- Controller
- Batteries
- Battery chargers
- Build Chassis for Hard Car
- Frame
- Rear end
- Front end
- Chassis (plastic Powerwheels shell)
- Build Electronics for Hard Car
- Motor
- Controller
- Batteries
- Battery chargers
- Traction Controller
- Test Car(s) extensively for reliability
Hardware
Issues to Resolve
- Welder
- Frame Type
- Power System
- Motion
- Motors
- Steering
- Wheels
Software
Issues to Resolve
- Motor Control
- Power Limits
- Tracking and Sensors
Links
Ideas!
Put your great ideas and brainstorming down here!
- swivel seat that allows driver to adjust his position and the center of weight of the car
- traction control
- four wheel drive with independent hub motors
- traditional brakes in the front wheels in case rear motor electric braking fails
- home brew high power electric motor controller - MOSFETs!
- battery monitoring - panel meters, low battery lights for driver
- temperature monitoring / shutdown - prevent motor from being damaged; automatically reduce max throttle
- suspension modifications to support the ~150lb driver and ~50lb battery
- headlights and tail lights - bling
- heads up display for the driver - instead of panel meters
- wireless telemetry for the pit crew
- regenerative braking to extend battery life