Background
RISD Rover team was established in 2009, formerly what used to be a bicycle design class. It consist of students who voluntarily spend their free time to get together to design, manufacture and compete at an The NASA Human Exploration Challenge event held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The club is mainly funded by the NASA Space Grant and companies that support what we do.
Reflection
As one of the leaders, I directed all the carbon fiber layups and helped design custom parts and in-house manufacturing. The biggest challenge I've faced was how to get dozen unique designers to design one final product. Each year I became better at recognizing my teammates' talents, which lead me to be a leader capable of understanding my team's strength and weaknesses.
RISD Rover Team 2015 (Left) / RISD Rover Team 2016 (Right)
Rover 2015 Rover 2016
Rover Team 2017
This year, the team consisted of 13 members, all with different backgrounds and ranging from Freshmen to first year Grad students of RISD.
Because the team leaders and I have had an extensive study on the strength of carbon fiber and fabricating parts with the material, I had great knowledge in various carbon fiber layups to direct the team on layup for seats, wheel rims, and spokes of our rover.
Conducting a custom carbon fiber spoke layup for the wheels
Inspecting the angle of front pedal and optimal location of the chain tensioner. (Left) / Rear drivetrain and carbon fiber wheel of rover (Right)
Competition
Team members go to Alabama to maintain the rover such as assembly, machining parts that needs fixing, and constantly tests to make sure the rover is ready to be tested on the race track.
The teams race for two days. On the first day, each rover goes through small test stations where they:
1. check the weight of the rover,
2. see if it fits a 5 foot cubic foot grid,
3. have riders walk a certain distance while carrying the rover, and
4. time how long it takes for two riders to assemble their rover and position themselves in it.
1. check the weight of the rover,
2. see if it fits a 5 foot cubic foot grid,
3. have riders walk a certain distance while carrying the rover, and
4. time how long it takes for two riders to assemble their rover and position themselves in it.
On both days, each rover (some schools have multiple) can race once on the track use their best time.
At the end of the second day, all the data is gathered by NASA associates and an award ceremony is held inside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Practicing carrying the rover in a folded up position. (Left) / Fitting the rover in a five foot square grid. (Right)
Outcome
This year, our team achieved their best record yet. We won Second place in the College Division, the Technology Challenge Award (wheel fabrication report), the AIAA Best Report Award, and the Featherweight Award.
The Alabama crew and Michael Lye (center back) with their "hard-won" trophies.
The RISD Rover Team continues our work and aims to achieve more in the years to come!
I have no doubt they will achieve greater things; I know I have left the team in very good hands.
I have no doubt they will achieve greater things; I know I have left the team in very good hands.