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UNC Charlotte prides
itself on teaching not only the theory behind engineering, but the
practical application of engineering to solve real problems. To that
end, we promote hands-on experiential learning. Every sophomore
student takes a manufacturing class where they machine a working
pneumatic engine that teaches them not only how to use the machines,
but the importance of surface roughness and tribology, lubrication
and metrology as well.
This hands-on approach pays off too! In 2001-2002, UNC Charlotte
students walked off with numerous top five awards including a fifth
consecutive ICARA championship, a fifth overall FSAE, and second
overall HPV.
Formula SAE |
Mini Baja |
Lunar Buggy
Drag Racing |
Legends ICARA
| Human Powered Vehicle
Formula SAE Design
Competition
Advisor: Dr. Jerre
Hill
Activity: Senior Design Project
Each May, student
teams from more than 100 engineering schools travel from around the
world to Detroit to participate in the Formula SAE international
design competition. Sponsored by the Society of Automotive
Engineers, the competition requires that teams create an open-wheel,
formula-style race car. During this two-semester project, students
provide all of the design, analysis, fabrication and, ultimately,
driving talent required to compete on the track. Teams must justify
design choices and present a detailed cost analysis to a panel of
professional engineers from Ford, GM and Daimler-Chrysler. Then the
real fun begins, as cars compete in a series of strenuous events
such as skid pad, autocross, drag race and endurance events.
In 1997, UNC Charlotte students entered their first FSAE competition
after a year of research, design and hard work. The work paid off,
as the team was named rookie of the year. By 2002, our team placed
fifth overall out of 118 schools, and had the second fastest time in
the endurance event.
Mini Baja Design Competition
Advisors: Drs. Bob
Hocken and Jim Cuttino
Activity: Senior
Design Project
 UNC
Charlotte students have been designing, building and racing Mini
Baja racers since 1989. The cars undergo rigorous inspections and
are judged for design, ergonomics and safety, before starting two
days of grueling competition. The cars then compete in numerous
events including a sled pull, maneuverability run, a hill climb and
a four-hour endurance run.
In 2001, two UNC
Charlotte teams built cars and raced them in Troy, Ohio. The cars
captured four awards including second in ride and handling, second
and third in appearance, and third in ergonomics.
Lunar Buggy Design
Competition
Advisors: Drs. Jim
Cuttino and Steve Patterson
Activity: Senior
Design Project
NASA's Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, hosts a competition each year
for the design and construction of a prototype moon buggy. The
competition is designed to inspire America's younger generations in
the pursuit of careers in engineering and the sciences.
In 2002, UNC
Charlotte entered this competition for the first time. The design
criteria included building a race vehicle that would fit inside a
four-foot cube, be carried by two, be deployed and then pedaled
across a half-mile simulated lunar surface. The team successfully
negotiated the rugged terrain to complete a year of hard work,
design and preparation.
Drag Racing Design Team
Advisor: Dr. Jerry
Micklow
Activity: Senior
Design Project
 Description:
In 2002, UNC Charlotte initiated its first-ever drag racing senior
project. The main objective of the project was to apply fundamental
mechanical engineering principles to the design of a drag racing
vehicle. The team was responsible for taking into account all design
parameters, including analysis of key components, structural design,
modifications to the powerplant and drivetrain, accurate cost
estimating and budgeting.
The 2002 design was
developed around the body of a Mazda RX7, a Chevrolet LS6 big block
engine, 12" x 30" drag slicks, and a two-speed power glide
transmission. The project, which will be completed in the 2002-2003
year, provides students with real-world experience as they prepared
to compete in local IHRA drag-racing events.
Inter-Collegiate Auto
Racing Association
Advisor: Dr. Jerre
Hill
Activity:
Intercollegiate Sport
UNC Charlotte was
instrumental in establishing the Inter-Collegiate Auto Racing
Association (ICARA), a conference formed by Southeastern
universities in 1997. In this league, engineering students race
Legends cars in tough wheel-to-wheel competition. UNC Charlotte
teams have been dominant in competition, capturing the first five
straight national championships from 1998 through 2002.
Teams are organized in
a manner similar to professional race teams, each having a team
manager, crew chief, mechanics and drivers. Since schools are not
allowed to "re-engineer" the cars, success depends largely on team-
work, chassis setup, track-side mechanic skills and driving talent.
In addition to
participation in collegiate racing, UNC Charlotte's Legends team
also competes in the other races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The team
finished in the top ten of more than 100 cars in the 2001 Summer
Shoot-out semi-pro series and won the Winter Heat semi-pro series.
For 2002, the team has moved up to the Summer Shoot-out pro
division.
Human Powered Vehicle (HPV)
Design Competition
Advisors: Drs. Russ
Keanini and Steve Patterson
Activity: Senior
Design Project
 UNC
Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College teamed up in 2001
to produce the first Human Powered (HPV) vehicle from the region. In
the single rider category, the rookie team placed fourth in design
and ninth overall.
In 2002, the UNC
Charlotte team went solo and took on the challenge of building its
HPV around a carbon fiber platform. The team placed first in design,
third in endurance, second in the women's sprint and second overall.
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