HCM CityIn order to hear the roar of the engine with the image of car smoke when accelerating, the corners and collisions like in a real race, Nguyen An Khai as well as many students have to invest and tinker to create realistic running models.
In early March, Cao Thang Technical College (District 3) launched the "Mini Car Racing" playground for students who are passionate about designing model cars inside and outside the school. Nguyen An Khai, a 1rd year automotive engineering student, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and other passionate members registered to try.
Participants in the race, the first thing is to design a car model. Khai and his friends participated in 4 seminars to gain knowledge about mechanical design, programming control systems for vehicles. Combining the knowledge learned, the team came up with ideas, designed the car on 3D software, tested the engine, steering system, transmission system, shock absorber ... Then the team built a simulation environment to evaluate the vehicle operation before manufacturing.
The team conducted a test run to check the operability of the model. After many times of adjusting the drivetrain shaft system, testing different types of vehicle pedestals, "until the 3rd version, the group is most satisfied", Khai said.
To protect the drive shaft system, the team used two side stands on the side of the vehicle. When the car runs at high rpm, the axle will have a deflection, so a support is needed to prevent the car from breaking the axle. To increase the ability to move through rough areas or climbing slopes, the team designed a two-wheeled vehicle (two pull and push systems) on four wheels. During the race, if there is a problem in one of the two bridges, the other bridge will pull or push to help the car operate.
Model cars running on gasoline engines of students of southern universities and colleges participating in the "Mini Car Racing" contest at Cao Thang Technical College, June 17. Image: Ha An
Nguyen Tuan Thanh, a student majoring in mechatronics, Cao Thang Technical College, said that fortunately a member of the group had a family member working in a mechanical workshop in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai) so he asked for help in the process of installing the model. On weekends, the group rides motorbikes more than 30 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai to perfect the car.
According to the group, the vehicle's material is an important factor. If you choose an aluminum material that is lightweight but easily deformed when it collides with another vehicle or hits the limit bar on the track. Therefore, the type of material is often chosen as iron, steel and reasonable fabrication for better vehicle impact resistance.
In addition to mechanical design, according to Thanh Car model, when operating, it is necessary to optimize the control algorithm connecting the car and smartphone. In case the control system is not stable, it can easily lead to delayed operation, even loss of connection, and the vehicle cannot be controlled. Compared with RF control, Thanh said that a car controlled by a smartphone connected to wifi is more difficult when it requires students to have programming knowledge and code to perfect the software running on the phone app.
Nguyen Tuan Thanh (left) with members of the model car designed by the team. Image: Ha An
Khai said that the team installed additional antennas on the car to increase reception, ensure connectivity, improve the microcontroller circuit and optimize the software on the phone to reduce noise to increase the ability to control the car.
According to student groups, the cost of finishing a model car depends on the materials, engine, design of parts, etc., on average, about 4-7 million VND. Although it took a lot of time, expense and effort, for Khai and his members, "the memorable experience was hearing the roar of the engine along with the image of smoke when accelerating, the corners and collisions between cars made me feel like in a real race".
Model car racing is a playground organized by a number of universities and colleges over the years such as Cao Thang College, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Lac Hong University (Dong Nai)... Students are allowed to use gasoline engines with a capacity of less than 50 cm3, design model cars with the same structure and operating principles as real cars with a self-made rate of at least 50% of the total vehicle. The track is designed with bends, obstacles, ramps, roughness... to challenge the vehicle's performance.
According to Master Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, Dean of the Department of Mechanical and Dynamic Engineering, Cao Thang Technical College, model car racing playgrounds help students apply theoretical knowledge into practice, improve teamwork skills and gain interdisciplinary knowledge. In addition to mechanical design, students must have knowledge of electrical circuit fabrication, application of information technology knowledge to program control software on phones. Because interdisciplinary knowledge is needed to perfect the model car, students have to work in groups. "This process helps you to know more new knowledge to support the work process later," said Master Thanh.
Mr. Tran Quoc Toan, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Automobile and Dynamic Equipment Association, assessed the model car playground as a place for young people to create car models. This is an important factor for students to get closer to the car manufacturing process.
According to Mr. Toan, usually with new graduates, it sometimes takes businesses from 3 months to a year to train to suit their needs. However, with practice time through model car playgrounds, students are trained professional skills to help businesses reduce training time and costs.
Model car racing playground organized by Lac Hong University in March. Video: Ha An
Ha An
