R/C Baja: Drivetrain

The Central Washington University Mechanical Engineering Technology Department hosts an annual R/C Baja competition in which R/C cars fabricated by student teams are put through a series of courses and tests to determine which team\u27s vehicle is best. The goal of this project was to create a functioning drivetrain that conveys power from the battery to the wheels and provides control of the vehicle. A list of requirements for the drivetrain was created to ensure that the vehicle will not only function, but that it will actually succeed in the competition. These requirements included that the vehicle must achieve a maximum speed that exceeds 20 mph and retain the capacity to produce maximum power for more than 15 minutes. To achieve this, preliminary calculations were completed that utilized principles from kinematics, basic electricity and mechanics of materials to ensure that these requirements would be met. Following this, 3D models and assemblies of the drivetrain and vehicle were produced. These steps culminated in the construction of the vehicle which utilized multiple construction methods such as machining and 3D printing. The finalized vehicle performed as intended with its maximum speed exceeding 25 mph and retained the capacity to produce maximum power in excess of 30 minutes