Solar Gators

From the first month at college, I had been a part of the solar gators design team. In it, many subsystem teams contributed their work to create a fully functioning, 100% solar powered car.

Being an aerospace student, I chose to work with the aerobody system, responsible for designing the outer shell of the car. Using star ccm and solidworks, we optimized the vehicle for the aerodynamic forces at the lower speeds the car would run at. Additionally, the region for the solar panels was built out to maximize the car's power potential.

From the start of the team, I worked as a junior member, taking on smaller design tasks as they came up. This helped me intimately learn 3D CAD from the start of my major and helped me to gain the interpersonal skills needed for a design team member.

Continuing on, I was selected by the team's executive board to be a lead on my team. There I became a safety steward of the Student Design Center and continued to help in the manufacturing of the car's carbon shell (after the interuption brought by covid).

After unexpected events and the project manager of my team departing, I stepped up with my co-lead Morgan to lead the project, becoming a member of the board. From there, I continued working closely with club alumni and the president to manufacture the car in time for the summer competition.

Ultimately I would depart the club after most of the manufacturing for the body was complete, seeking more experiences outside of the club in the limited time I had left at the university of Florida. IIt was a great honor to work with all of the members in solar gators and a great experience that shaped myself as someone who can apply their knowledge to make a functional prototype.