Durham University at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed brings together lovers of modern and vintage cars at Goodwood House in West Sussex. In a time where sustainability is not just a goal but a necessity, the Durham University Solar Car team have worked hard to innovate and engineer solar-powered automotive technology.
Over 600 cars and motorcycles attend Goodwood and amongst huge industry names, the Durham University Solar Car team conquered the Goodwood Hill Climb, a testament to the potential of solar-powered vehicles. At the heart of the event, the 1.16-mile hill is the centre of the action and sees big industry names take on the challenge. Every year, this road is transformed into a difficult course for manufacturers, drivers and race teams and it’s a chance to show off their incredible vehicles and driving skills.
Inspiring the future of STEM
The Durham team’s exhibit in the Future Lab was a hive of activity, drawing in more than 7,500 visitors. The team engaged with the public, sharing insights into engineering, solar technology, and inspiring the next generation with STEM activities. Vedika Bedi, the team principal, emphasised the project’s focus on engineering a vehicle that operates on the lowest power possible. Not only does this enable the car to run on solar power, but it opens doors to numerous opportunities and benefits, regardless of the energy source.
This event marked the debut of Ortus-T, the University’s new track car designed for the iLumen European Solar Challenge and there was lots of support for the project. A range of sponsors were present from Serica Energy to Benthams and Holroyd as well as igus UK. This backing not only reflects the confidence in the team’s vision but also the growing interest in sustainable technologies.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is such an important set of subjects that shape the world we live in and will go on to shape the future. There is a high demand for individuals to study and find careers in these sectors. Being able to work in STEM allows you to be at the heart of innovation and projects like Durham University’s Solar Car highlight what can be achieved and what the future could hold if more people were to take this path.
igus® ensures success for students
Sales Manager at igus® UK, Dean Aylott, was pleased to be invited to attend and see the result of the University’s hard work, making the trip there to witness the milestone in sustainable travel. igus® UK printed some trailing edges for aerodynamics, supplied plain bearings for the steering system and suspension pivot points as well as some dynamic cabling.
Dean Aylott recalls the day as a huge success:
“To see the car tackle the 12 percent hill climb on the circuit was remarkable. It was not designed for this task and yet it delivered well and the reaction from the commentary team, the audience and the wider industry suggests they are doing very special things.”
The YES (young engineers support) campaign is an initiative of igus® that provides free samples and specialist advice to students that are trying to develop their engineering projects. With over 30 years of experience in the UK alone, igus® UK want to use it to help students get an understanding of the world of engineering and be successful in their projects.
If you or someone you know is completing a project where igus® products could be used, please email tmacdonald@igus.net for more information or read about our other student focussed events.
