Racing the Sun – Autonomously

The objective of this project is to develop reliable autonomous (automated) driving capabilities to the ‘Racing the Sun’ solar vehicles. Racing the Sun (https://sarsef.org/programs/competitions/racing-the-sun/) is a STEM event where regional high school teams convert gasoline-powered go karts into solar-powered race cars and then compete in an annual race event at Musselman Honda race track. Students assemble and test the vehicles before the big race day. At the race, student teams compete in different divisions to see who can run the longest and furthest. The goal of the Engineering Senior Design project is to develop an autonomous driving racing the sun go cart. At the end of the project the Engineering Senior Design team will demonstrate the reliable self-driving capability by having their vehicle complete one or more laps at the Musselman Honda racetrack.

The project will require the team to develop the mechanical steering and speed control systems, select and add sensors (video, lidar, radar, and/or GPS), and develop a self-driving stack (software) that can successfully control the vehicle around the Musselman Honda racetrack. GPS is not accurate enough for vehicle control, so other sensors are needed to sense the roadway and plan the driving path. For this project, there will not be any obstacles or other vehicles on the track when the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.