Important Updates
In this section, the website will be updated with the major activities of the team. This includes, but is not limited to, information about the group, design updates, presentation notices, testing feedback, and overall Senior Project 1 & 2 progress.
#1: Team Formation: 05/16/2021
The team all received the news that they would be on the TCNJ Mini-Baja Senior Project for the 2021 - 2022 Academic Year! The team had their first meeting with the advisors and received access to the previous year's files, reports, pictures, and overall knowledge. The team also received their Senior Project notebooks and chose which subsystem they would be working on. As the previous team passed the torch, the new team members charged forward with their summer research!
#2: First In-Person Meeting: 07/02/2021
The team met for the first time in person in the TCNJ Machine Shop. Here they took pictures and closely examined the 2021 Test Mule and went through our entire current inventory. This helped each member build off of last year's work and figure out the direction they wanted to take for the rest of the summer.
#3: Testing 2021 Mule: 08/15/2021
The team went to Jonathan's house to fully test out the 2021 Test Mule. The team went through the previous year's test plan which included turning radius, acceleration, maneuverability, suspension, braking, and weight pull. The only drawback was that the front differential was broken, therefore, the entire test was done in two wheel drive.
#4: Project Proposal Presentation: 09/15/2021
The team utilized their time over the summer well and established a preliminary design of the car while also abiding by SAE guidelines. The team is currently in the process of finishing up their design of each individual subsystem. The presentation was presented to the Mechanical Engineering Department where each team member presented their goal, approach, and challenges for each subsystem. The team was able to present their Gantt Chart and Projected Budget for the fiscal year. The team also official registers for the Rochester Competition as Vehicle #25!
#5: Interim Design Presentation: 11/03/2021
The team is over the halfway point through SP-1. At this point all subsystems initial design and modeling in Solidworks have been complete and is ready for FEA Analysis, where each part will be optimized and refined through extensive simulations. The presentation encompasses a benchmark for students and helps track the overall progression of the project. The team was able to present their design matrices in this presentation which explains how each team member came to their respective design decisions.
#6:Official Start of Manufacturing: 11/16/2021
The first part of the vehicle to begin manufacturing is the frame! Since the frame is the main system that everything else is built upon, finalizing the design and FEA Analysis of the frame was #1 priority and we are very excited to have the vehicle start becoming a reality. The rest of the team continues to wrap up their FEA Analysis.
#7: Final SP-I Presentation: 12/08/2021
The team has completed all of their designs and FE Analysis and is excited to proceed towards manufacturing all subsystems after Winter Break. The team makes their Final Presentation to the Mechanical Enginering Department to display their completely integrated vehicle. Parts and materials for the vehicle begin to be ordered as the team wraps up their Senior Fall semester. After a well-deserved break the team is excited to begin fully assembling the vehicle and watch all their hardwork drive for the first time!
#8: Winter Break Progress: 01/14/2022
The team continues to manufacture the remaining subsystems of the vehicle. The team is making ample progress with goals to finish their manufacturing by their Spring Break in March. The rear suspension and front suspension near the completion of their first assembly. The team also prepares for the start of their Spring semester which will bring about new challenges and experiences.
#9: Winter Progress Presentation: 02/09/2022
The team presents their progress over Winter Break to the advisors and the rest of the Mechanical Engineering Class. This presentation is meant to display everyone's hard work over Winter Break and to show others that their time has been spent wisely while they were away from school. The frame, front suspension, and rear suspension have been complete at this point and the team works on completing their Cost Reduction Report and their Roll Cage Documentation for SAE.
#10: First SAE Submissions: 02/14/2022
The team completes their first 2 documents that must be submitted to SAE: the Roll Cage Documentation and their Cost Reduction Report. The Roll Cage Documentation is to ensure that the frame follows the guidelines set forth by SAE. The Cost Reduction Report helps embellish the Collegiate Design Series by introducing business aspects to the competition to simulate the real-world engineering industry. The Cost Reduction Report entails finding 2 key parts of the vehicle that could be made cheaper in one way or another to reduce the overall cost of the vehicle in a mass production/company prototype setting.
#11: First Testing: 03/13/2022
The team has completed manufacturing of the vehicle! The team brought the first iteration of the 22' vehicle to Jonathan's home to fully test drive the vehicle for the first time ever. The team was very excited to drive it and see all their hard work come to fruition. Overall, the team learned a lot about the vehicle and was able to find out what needs to be changed or adjusted for the second round of testing. Back to the drawing board!
#12: SAE Document Submission: 03/18/2022
The team submits their next document for SAE: the Business Plan Presentation. The document requires a written report where the team acts as a company that manufactures all-terrain, of-road vehicles. The goal is to pitch their vehicl and propose an outdoor power vehicle race to a company. This is one of the bigger static events where the team will be scored and must undergo a virtual presentation on April 14th. Good luck TCNJ Motorsports Co.!
#13: Realistic Constraints & Standards: 04/06/2022
As one of the requirements for Senior Project II, the team creates a presentation that encompasses the realistic constraints and standards that are applicable to the Senior Project. Professor Sepahpour provided a list of 13 different constraints where the team must choose which ones to discuss in further detail. The team decided that Economics, Ethical, Manufacturability, Sustainability, Standards, and Safety all apply to the Mini-Baja Senior Project and created a short 5 min presentation discussing each one. You can also find these discussed in our "MORE" menu under "REALISTIC CONSTRAINTS".
#14: SAE Business Plan Presentation: 04/14/2021
The team wraps up their Business Sales Plan Presentation and practices extensively to make sure the presentation goes smoothly. The advisors have approved the presentation as well. Bryan and Jonathan have both volunteered to be the main presenters for the virtual presentation and if they score highly, they will be able to be a part of the live presentation at the competition in Rochester where they will compete with the other high-placing teams. Good luck boys!