UFO has landed at SAE Lab. Aliens missing!!!

A strange looking UFO has landed at SAE lab. We were not sure when & what time it had landed but what is more worrying is the missing aliens. Where are the driver?


Nah...it just our car. Yeah the shape looks big and very weird. As you can see it needs a lot of surface finish improvements ( trimming, sanding & painting).
The car seat & seat belts are also to be installed soon. A lot more equipments also needs to fixed such as front brakes, accelerator,window & side mirror. The engine is missing because its support bracket has damaged, it might take some time until we managed to attach the engine to the car.

Testing 3,2,1...

Hypothesis is a proposed explanation for an observable phenomenon. Experiments have to be conducted to justify the explanation. Thus, we had our first test run!

Oh yeah, according to some lecturers here, reports should be done in paragraph form, like thesis...So, this is it!

Title: Hypothesis Test Drive 1

Date: 27 January 2010 ( Wednesday)

Time: 1400-1700

Venue: School of Mechanical Engineering

What We Want:

To test the dynamics and mechanism of Hypothesis, and to get the drivers behind the wheels!

What We Did!

First, a quick roll call was carried out to check the presence of the drivers and members involved in this test run. Next, the height and weight of all drivers (primary and reserves) are taken and recorded. (data is taken 3 times and an average....bla bla bla). All 6 drivers then took turns to test the ergonomics of the cockpit and the vehicle.

Part 2, a mini test run had been carried out to test the mechanism of the running gears i.e. steering, rear wheels, brakes. The full test run methods however cannot be revealed here.

Result

It has been a fruitful day as we managed to achieve our objectives. The car showed some negative results in some area. Targets of and ideal vehicle are yet to be achieved. But, bear in mind, what is down will go up!

We're glad to have this test run cause we finally managed to identify some areas in this car for further improvement.

So, dear SHELL, wait for it.....!

Appendix

Driver in the cockpit!

Video recording in progress

Testing the mechanism of brake calipers

Checking the alignment of the sprocket and chain

From start to finish!

I Know What You Did Last Week..

Hello peeps,

It's been a long time since we've post an update on our progress. Let's have a recap:

Last year we have established our very own SAE Laboratory, place of birth of the Nemesis and Genesis.

In the previous week, we have managed to make a tremendous progress on our prototype car, the Hypothesis. Breakdown on the progress made:

Engine team

Engine has been installed to the rear part of the Hypothesis. The modifications made on th GX-35 are clutch and drive shaft, transmission chain to the sprocket of the rear wheel.

Running Gear

We have our steering installed! Together with the rear brakes!

Oh no, Error occurred! Got to fix it, man.

Running gear team installing the steering shaft

Body team

They are arguably the most hardworking one of all team. Kudos to them!! From the shell mold modelling, right up to the fiber glass installation (still progressing). Great effort, guys! And not to forget, our diligent and wise Vigren. :D

Cheng, cheng, cheng -> Master Vigren

And here are some photos regarding our progress.

The chasis of Hypothesis together with brake calipers and tensioner

Running gear + Engine team at work. Great teamwork!

Here we go, everyone is at work!

Prof. Horizon giving some advice on the engine part

Driver in the cockpit

Oh crap, misaligned brake calipers :S

Tremendous progress but remember, tonnes of work ahead of us. So, get together and keep up the good work, y'all!!

Tschuss!

SEM Team Member List Will Be Revealed Soon

On the 18th of January 2010, the final 40 will be recruited in the SEM Team USM.
Please check it out at the notice board in front of SAE Motorsports lab. You will know your actual role in USM SEM TEAM till July in Sepang Circuit.

USM SEM Car Mold Fabrication

The mold for the SEM car is still in progress and the is expected to be completed on 1st week of January. The car will be completed by end of January 2010 and not end of December 2009 as planned.

Preparing the Fiberglass Mold

Before the shell can be fabricated, the mold has to be produced. Based on Solidworks drawings, the cross-sections of shell were printed in 1:1 ratio on A0 size paper. The 2D profiles were transferred to plywood and cut according to its shape. Each ribs were then attached to the base profile using brackets.
After printing using plotter the paper was cut according to its profile

The 2D shape of profile are pasted to plywood

Ribs profile are cut according to its shape using jigsaw

The ribs were placed at equal distance from each other

Ribs being installed to top mold

Bottom Mold

The ribs will be soon filled with PU foam and before fiberglass hand lay up can be done.

Hock Shen preparing the PU chemical mixture


Ribs ready to be filled with PU foam

Filling the PU Foam

Vanilla Ice cream?
Pu foam are left to solidify

Trimming the excess Pu foam

Upon filling with PU Foam the mold was later trimmed and one layer of glass fiber was added to give the mold surface better strength.

Top Mold
Bottom Mold

Chopped strands Glass fiber layers were then applied onto the mold to produce the shell.

PepRally By Prof.Horizon

As going gets tough, the tough gets going. Prof.Horizon had a special motivation session with all the SEM Team members for fabricating the SEM cars. After his motivational and team strategies, everyone were fully energized and motivated.

Competing the mileage of the European and American is a big challenge, he added.

He had also reminded that SEM is a International event. Hence, we have to fabricate a robust car design that is on par with other cars.