The Stevens solar boat team got 99 problems and a Solar Splash race isn’t one. With 99 days until the anticipated event, the rookie team belonging to the Stevens Institution of Technology continues to work hard and to prove their capability of winning championship at the 2017 Solar Splash competition.
There are many teams from all over the United States and the world that are entering the Solar Splash competition. A list exists on the Solar Splash website of the 2017 teams that have been entered with their websites and blogs. In this post, we decided to shed light on the Stevens Solar Boat team to show our support for the new innovators.
Wait…Solar What?
If you haven’t seen previous posts about this, Solar Splash is in short, a freshwater solar power competition open to all colleges. The competition has the goal of finding the teams that can best exploit the sun in a small watercraft. This event happens over the duration of five days that tests workmanship, endurance, speed and resourcefulness. The five days include on-site and on-water challenges. After the teams and their boats get tested for security and eligibility, they move on to the races/challenges. These include the Solar Slalom, the Solar Endurance and a 300 meter race.
These boats have to rely on solar power but they can have rechargeable lead acid storage batteries that help them. There are many other entry rules that you can check out on our related posts or on the website.
So How is Stevens’ Solar Boat Team Doing it?
Seven mechanical and naval engineering senior students compose the Stevens solar boat team. With June being the date of the competition, these seven members have been working extremely hard day and night to ensure that they are ready. They have even set up an earlier deadline for themselves in May!
Another interesting thing that they are doing to ensure their boat is more efficient, is using carbon fiber as the main laminate. Using Carbon adds minimal weight but maximum strength which creates a win-win situation!
To many, this competition does not mean much. However, for many students, this is the thing that could be the deciding factor in their careers. For these students, it is a stepping stone in the right direction of their dreams.
Have you been to a Solar Competition event before? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
More updates coming soon on our website!
Check out Stevens solar boat team’s website for more information: http://stevenssolarboat.wixsite.com/ssb2017
Related:
The Caliber of Solar Splash Entrants
The Solar Splash Collegiate Competition
How the Rules of Solar Splash Work
