Smart Power Team Shines with SOLIDWORKS
Smart Power Team is a group of student – enthusiasts of Student Scientific Association of Machinery Design (SKN MKM), studying at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology in Poland. With the help of SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller SOLIDEXPERT, among others, they designed and built a battery powered car, the MuSHELLka. The MuSHELLka won first place in the Prototype Battery Electric class in the preparation round of the Shell Eco-Marathon competition in France. In early July, the Smart Power Team and their hydrogen cell powered car, HydroGENIUS, will race in the Shell Eco-Marathon finals in London.
SOLIDEXPERT began their partnership with Smart Power Team last year, when they provided CAD solutions to the team. Smart Power Team exported their original car design to SOLIDWORKS so they could test MuSHELLka’s aerodynamics.
They’re also using SOLIDWORKS for two other car designs. HydroGENUIS, an UrbanConcept class car powered by a hydrogen cell, has components that were tested for strength and durability in SOLIDWORKS Simulation. Flow Simulation was used to check the air flow resistance of that car’s plating during a race.
SOLIDWORKS software was used from the beginning to design the HyBAT RCC project. HyBAT RCC is a remote controlled car powered by a hydrogen cell. Models of the individual vehicle components were developed in SOLIDWORKS, then verified for durability using Simulation. Flow Simulation was used to test the aerodynamic properties of HyBAT RCC in order to minimize air resistance during a race. With HyBAT RCC, Smart Power Team won Best University Team at the Hydrogen Horizon Automotive Challenge 2018 World Final in Chemnitz, Germany.
Smart Power Team received dedicated SOLIDWORKS training from SOLIDEXPERT, where they spent a weekend learning about drawings, parts, and assemblies. Smart Power Team Supervisor Andrzej Jałowiecki said, “All of [our success] would not be possible without [SOLIDEXPERT] training, which comprehensively introduced our constructors to the SOLIDWORKS environment, allowing us to learn many useful tricks, such as mouse gestures and keyboard shortcuts.”
He continued, “Now, having full access to SOLIDWORKS, we are already beginning work on the next generation of cars for the 2019 season. The ability to use a comprehensive CAx system like SOLIDWORKS should significantly accelerate and improve the design and construction stage which, we hope will translate into even better results for the future.”
Anna Dziedzic, the SOLIDEXPERT Education Specialist who’s been working with Smart Power Team since the beginning, is optimistic about their success in London. “We are in constant contact with the Smart Power Team, and are always ready to help. I think this team has a chance to stand on the winner’s podium. We will cross our fingers for that!”
We wish the Smart Power Team good luck at the Shell Eco-Marathon finals in London! Thank you to Anna Dziedzic at SOLIDEXPERT for taking the time to talk about this story. All images courtesy of SOLIDEXPERT and Smart Power Team.
Sara Zuckerman
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