Trustworthy Systems

Steering-Integrated driver controls for sunswift IV

Authors

Andrew Wrigley

    School of Computer Science and Engineering
    UNSW,
    Sydney 2052, Australia

Abstract

Sunswift IV is the UNSW Solar Racing Team's entrant in the 2009 World Solar Challenge, a 3000km solar car race that runs biennially from Darwin to Ade- laide. Recent changes to the international technical regulations for solar racing were required to slow the cars below the road speed limit and improve safety. One new regulation is a requirement for a steering wheel (as opposed to other methods such as push-pull steering previously employed several teams, includ- ing the UNSW team). This thesis integrates the driver controls and display into a steering wheel, consolidating all driver interfaces within the car in a similar way to Formula 1 racing cars. In addition, the greater visibility and area for controls allows for more functionality to be built into the steering wheel, including data logging, automated speed control, and a graphical display. This report details the research and development undertaken to build a system with such functionality. It also outlines the development of a first revision steering wheel that performs only essential driver controls and display functions.

BibTeX Entry

  @mastersthesis{Wrigley:be,
    address          = {Sydney, Australia},
    author           = {Andrew Wrigley},
    month            = nov,
    paperUrl         = {https://trustworthy.systems/publications/theses_public/09/Wrigley%3Abe.pdf},
    school           = {School of Electrical Engineering},
    title            = {{Steering-Integrated} Driver Controls for Sunswift {IV}},
    year             = {2009}
  }

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