The World Solar Challenge, sponsored by Bridgestone, officially presented its virtual program in which it invites teams to test their solar cars, with the aim of verifying the skill and construction capacity necessary to reach the competition.
The plan, which features a telemetry challenge and a set of prizes, will begin in September this year. The series details that its aim is to support those who intended to participate in the 2021 edition and promote their efforts to further drive technology, innovation and sustainability.
Telemetry challenge
The telemetry challenge is open to any team that has participated in a recognized solar challenge in the past. It will allow teams to compare the performance of their solar cars based on measures such as energy efficiency, develop and experiment with data acquisition systems that could be used in future events, and join the wider community in developing analytical methods and presentation of vehicle performance data.
Each team will collect and send telemetry data while driving their cars starting in September, and approved analysts will be able to review and evaluate the data sent starting in October.
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All data will be “replayed” simultaneously from October 26-28 for simultaneous comparison and more detailed analysis. Members of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge scientific faculty will help the public interpret the data through regular summaries on the event website.
Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Virtual Awards
These awards will recognize the efforts of solar car teams registered in 2021 and highlight outstanding achievements throughout the community.
The category notes in an official statement that registrations are open only to those teams that have registered to participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2021, including those whose solar cars are incomplete. The technology, innovation, sustainability, awareness and culture of the team will be recognized. The ceremony will air worldwide on October 30.
The 16th edition of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge was canceled due to the current closure of Australia’s international border. A total of 630 international participants and 26 foreign teams from 20 countries were expected to travel for the event.
Events South Australia Executive Director c stated that the virtual program would help highlight the teams’ dedication to the development of solar vehicle technology.
“While we were unable to host the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge this year, the work to promote solar cars continues and we congratulate the many students involved,” she said. “We are committed to sharing their accomplishments, uniting our community and looking forward to the future with optimism,” she added.
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Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Event Director Chris Selwood encouraged teams to participate in the telemetry challenge and awards. “Ours is an event that celebrates technology, and here it will help us see how far solar car design has come,” he noted.
“We are all excited to see the results of the telemetry challenge, and also to honor the teams that have shown such resilience to keep going despite the major setbacks last year,” he concluded.
Written by I Jhonattan González
