RC Baja

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) hosts an RC Baja competition yearly at Central Washington University where schools from around the state gather to compete. The competition is based and scored from three different events: drag race, slalom, and a Baja course. Performing well in both the competition and other various tests will deem the car successful. The differential and drive train are two important features that allow the car to function properly. Using Solidworks 3D software and a 3D printer, the engineers were able to design functional components. The differential is designed to allow the rear wheels to spin independently of one another. In corners, the rear wheels can rotate at different rates while still receiving input to accommodate for the different turning radii. In addition, the drive shafts can handle a scaled torque of 376.3lb-ft without failing due to torsion. A 7-gear system was implemented for the differential with 6 gears inside and a ring gear molded to the outside allowing for a compact design. Speaking to the overall weight, a fun fact about the car is that it only weighs 5lbs completely assembled due to a lightweight wooden chassis design. This design was meant to be an innovative change from the more common aluminum chassis. Every aspect of the car was built and assembled in a way that will allow a rapid repair if necessary while still adhering to the ASME guidelines