RC Baja: Drivetrain

Students and faculty of the mechanical engineering department of Central Washington University annually host an RC Baja challenge each spring, testing a RC car in three events: slalom, acceleration and Baja. The RC car that was tested in these events was designed, engineered and manufactured in teams of two teammates. The work was divided by choosing one teammate to work on the drivetrain and the other teammate to work on the chassis and steering. Twelve different analyses were performed to ensure the RC car was optimized and functional. These analyses used FBD’s, statics, mechanics of materials and dynamics to ensure all the requirements specified for the RC vehicle were met. This included finding the top speed of the vehicle, the stress and component sizes and the loads/forces on designed mounts. Another important aspect analyzed was the torque transmitted from the motor, torque on the axle, and the total weight of the drivetrain. The drivetrain of the RC car was designed by Rachel Krill. All electronic drivetrain components have been assembled into the chassis, designed by Joe Fritz, and fit accordingly. Two mounts were 3D printed to hold the motor in place as well as to hold the center spool in place. The results included testing the speed which achieved the predicted top speed of 40MPH, the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle which were 7.25 ft/s2 and -6.90 ft/s2, respectively