18 AUG - 17 SEPT 2017
Explore how we design and build a radio-controlled four-wheel drive (4x4) car that navigates and completes a series of obstacles and tests. Check this out!
"This is the first time Land Rover 4x4 in Schools National Finals being held in Malaysia to celebrate STEM education among Malaysian students. The champion team will be competing in the World Finals in Abu Dhabi this December." my teacher told my team members and me.
It was my first time participating in such a technical competition and we were very nervous. We needed to manufacture a radio-controlled four-wheel drive (4X4) car to navigate and complete a series of obstacles and tests to the specifications provided. Besides, we also needed to:
Build a body shell that meets all the rules and regulations.
Design a tow bar that is attachable to pull a carrying a load up to 2 kg.
Program an electronic system that sends signals in response to specific situations.
Set up Pit Display that fully reflects the team identity, portable and professional.
Finalize manufacturing of the vehicle with sufficient time for all team members to practice
Navigating various terrains and challenges.
Observe safety procedures during the manufacturing and testing phase of the challenge.
Utilize sustainable materials where possible in the manufacturing of vehicle.
Different assessments were tested during the competition, including Scrutinizing, Verbal Presentation, Engineering Presentation, Pit Display Assessment, and Track Assessment.
Meet the team!
The manufacturing process was exhausting and sometimes, frustrating too. Although we have made a Gantt chart to track our progress, we were still behind the schedule because most of our team members were also participating in a boot camp. Therefore, we appreciated every free minute that we had to design and manufacture the car.
As the Design Engineer, my biggest challenge was to design a strong body shell that can protect the car from damages when maneuvering through obstacles. After extensive research and calculations. I selected polylactic acid (PLA) material to be printed for the body shell because it was light, rigid, and heat-resistant. In addition, I designed our team T-shirt to show our team spirit. Furthermore, I also made a portfolio that records our manufacturing process to be shared with the judges. Throughout the competition, I worked cohesively with my team to manufacture the vehicle's mechanical structures, assemble electronic components, and test-drive the car with self-made obstacles. Finally, we named our car "ChumbaCar" in recognition of our sponsor, Chumbaka.
The 4x4 In Schools National Finals was held during the #mydigitalmaker fair 2017. In the early morning, we quickly set up our booth with banners, posters, and mini-models of our car and waited for the judges' arrival. It was an open event, so we got many visitors to our booth to explore our vehicle. We took the opportunity to practice our pitch with the visitors and collected feedback from them.
When the judges arrive, we presented every detail of the car and the reasons behind its design. We also shared our ideas of body shell made from compressed rice husk and tires made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The judges were amazed by our team because we presented with so much passion and enthusiasm. In fact, they said we gave the best presentation among all the teams.
Then, there came the Track Assessment. We were required to station our vehicle in a designated zone and then control the car from a controller to complete the obstacles. The tracks were divided into Zone A and Zone B, with two teams simultaneously completing tracks in different zones. Fortunately, it was not difficult at all because we already trained ourselves repeatedly with our self-made obstacles back in school. In the end, we completed all the obstacles perfectly!
Eventually, we won the "Innovative Thinking Award" for showing creativity in our design and our ability to utilize simple electronics components in the car's safety precautions. We were overwhelmed because our months of effort had paid off. Most importantly, we had fostered strong friendships among the team members and teachers. I have learned the importance of effective teamwork to achieve success.
View ChumbaCar's portfolio here:
Find ChumbaCar's code here:
Gallery
Discussing ideas!
Meet our mentor, Mr. Nigel!
Secured a sponsorship from KHIND!
Our self-made tracks!
The Gantt Chart!
Explaining internal structures of the car to judges!
Presenting our car to judges!
Completing the tracks!
Hope you enjoy this blog!
Kok Wei