On the contrary, the boxfish possesses unique characteristics and is a prime example of the ingenious inventions developed by nature over millions of years of evolution.
There is more to the boxfish than meets the eye: despite its angular body, it is an excellent swimmer whose cube-shaped structure is by no means a hindrance. And it needs to move in confined spaces in its search for food, which requires good manoeuvrability. It must withstand high pressures and protect its body during collisions, which requires a rigid outer skin. Like any animal, the Boxfish needs to conserve its strength and move with the least possible consumption of energy, which requires powerful muscles and a streamlined shape. It has its home in the coral reefs, lagoons and seaweed of the tropical seas, where it has a great deal in common with cars in many respects. It was not the fast, sleek swimmers such as the shark or dolphin that came closest to the ideals of the research engineers, but a creature that looks anything but streamlined and agile at first sight: the boxfish. A team of: biologists, bionics scientists and automotive researchers from various disciplines embarked on an extraordinary expedition into the animal kingdom which soon led them into the depths of the underwater world – and presented them with a surprise. This fish inspired a research project by Mercedes Benz.
The Boxfish is one example of an angular shape that is still very efficient at moving through water. They simply have to propel themselves through a much denser liquid: water. This means generating lift with their wings and keeping their body as efficient as possible to penetrate the air, hence move forward.įish have the same basic problem, but do not have to generate lift. Birds have to be able to use the air well, in order to survive. There are many examples of animals which are extremely aerodynamic, the most obvious of which are fish and birds. When an object produces poor airflow, more energy is required to push it forward. Such a design is considered to be aerodynamically efficient. If a moving object is streamlined, the air will flow around it smoothly and cause less drag, therefore needing less energy to move the object. Aerodynamics engineers study the way in which air flows around objects, but it is still somewhat a black art.Īir resistance is referred to as aerodynamic drag. Air resistance is influenced by the shape of an object. Air offers a resistance to any object moving through it. One objective of aerodynamic studies is the design of shapes that offer the least resistance to the flow of air. The second is to use a powerful computer program that does the same kind of air flow simulation using a computer-generated model of the car. The first is to build scale models that are tested in a wind tunnel to simulate air flow across the car. Testing proposed aerodynamic shapes is generally done in one of two ways. Once a design is proposed, the shape should be tested to obtain figures for drag.
Monocoque car body design principles driver#
One goal for the teams who design solar cars, is to achieve extremely low aerodynamic drag while still maintaining a suitable surface for the solar cells and adequate space for the driver and the other components. Toward the late afternoon or early morning sun.Ĭar slipstream - turquoise = turbulent flow Monocoque, the whole car would have to be tilted, to angle the panels Obviously, in a car that uses the shell as a Is usually hinged or detachable, to enable the panels to be angled This reason, many teams opt for a separate tubular chassis, withīodywork attached as one or two piece mouldings. Price, where complexity and specialization may hamper roadside repairs, This design approach may yield a lighter vehicle, which may come at a Structure and take loads fed into the vehicle via the suspension.
Manufacture almost anything, enter 3D printing machines that are nowĪ car is a monocoque composite moulding, the body may become part of the Specials, granted that with computer design it is possible to But that also puts up theĬost of creativity and prevents home concepts, one-offs and backyard CAD-CAM obviates that need, such thatįabrication experience goes out the window. Where in the real world, marking out and cutting is Next generation of engineers and encouraging creativity. Nelson - is an electric car innovator who advocates passing skills to the Mass of the vehicle determines the rolling resistance, and the rate ofĪcceleration, the shape of the bodywork, determines the aerodynamicĭrag, which above 25 mph can rise significantly. The weight of a Solar Powered car's bodywork down is almost as importantĪs making sure it slides through the air gracefully. Science of design and constructing solar powered cars
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