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Workshops
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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| Who Should Attend? |
Any interested teacher or student that wants to build a high school solar car project in preparation for a Solar Car Challenge race. |
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| How Many Can Attend? |
Please limit your attendance to no more than ten students per school. |
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| How Much Does it Cost? |
Nothing. |
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| Is a Reservation Required? |
Yes. Please fill out the reservation form no later than one week in advance of the workshop. Teams will receive a formal registration receipt (by return email) that will be their ticket of admission for the workshop, and put that group on a mailing list for workshop announcements. The Solar Car Challenge Foundation will not be responsible for students, teachers, or teams arriving at the workshop without a formal registration receipt. |
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| When are the Workshops? |
Scroll up to the top of this page for the dates and locations. |
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| Do teachers get credit for attending the workshop? |
The Solar Car Challenge is an official provider of CPE hours as authorized by the Texas Education Agency. |
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Specialty Workshop Reservation
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Teams Workshop Agenda
Hosted by Oncor, Lockheed Martin, and EarthX
Trinity I Ballroom, DFW Marriott & Golf Club
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| 9:00 AM |
Welcome to the Teams Workshop and Race Philosophy
What's ahead for the Solar Car Challenge in 2024
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| 9:30 AM |
How to Develop Your Team
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks, Race Director
- What type of organization works best?
- What is the right size of the team?
- How do I get the team and parents vested in the project?
- The Importance of a Team Calendar, Budget, and Suppliers
- Importance of Teaching Skills Necessary to build a solar car
Comments by Tony Roseberry, Former Team Adviser, Wylie, TX |
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| 10:15 PM |
Meet Fort Worth Country Day Solar Car Team and see their Solar Car
Dr. John Cordell, Team Adviser |
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| 10:45 AM |
The Importance of Team Communications
Presented by Members of Iron Lions
Where to Find Parts for your Solar Car
Presented by Joel Pitts, Adviser to Iron Lions
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| 11:30 AM |
Mini-course in Mechanical Engineering
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks, Race Director |
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| 12:30 PM |
Lunch Break |
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| 1:30 PM |
Meet the Wylie East Solar Car Team and see their Solar Car
Matthew Karlsen, Team Adviser |
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| 2:15 PM |
Mini-course in Electrical Engineering
Solar car electrical systems, battery technology, and safety issues.
Presented by Brian Coleman, Adviser to the Somerset HS Solar Car Team, KY |
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| 3:00 PM |
Registration Packet, Oral Presentation, and Team Scrapbook
New Guidelines require presentations to include Team Engineering Decisions
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks |
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| 3:15 PM |
Rules Clarifications for the 2024 Closed-Track Race
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks |
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| Friday, January 26, 2024 |
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| 7:30 PM |
Reception Honoring Teachers & Team Advisers
San Marcos/Pecos Room, DFW Marriott
This will be a great opportunity to meet teachers, team advisers, judges, and staff taking part in the workshop. |
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| Saturday, January 27, 2024 |
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| 9:00 AM |
Welcome, and Overview of the 2024 Solar Car Challenge
Dr. Lehman Marks, Race Director & Founder, Solar Car Challenge Foundation |
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| 9:45 AM |
How to Start Your Solar Car Team and Promote Your Project (video)
Brent Dragoo, PhD, Team Advisor to the Liberty Christian Solar Car Team |
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| 10:15 AM |
Building Solar Cars [Materials Technology]
Where to find materials for the Solar Car Project (video)
Joel Pitts, Team Advisor to the Greenville High School Solar Car Team, Texas |
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Coffee Break
See the record-breaking Iron Lions Solar Car and meet their team from Greenville, Texas |
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| 11:00 AM |
Solar Car Construction (video)
What it takes to actually build the solar car, and the skills required.
Mark Rose, Adviser to multiple solar car teams
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| 11:45 AM |
The Importance of Reliable Mechanical Diagrams and Schematics (video)
Brian Coleman, Team Adviser to the Somerset High Solar Car Team, Kentucky
Classic Team Division Winner in the Siemens Mechanical Drawing Competition
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Lunch Break |
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| 1:30 PM |
Energy Modeling Optimization (video)
The process of using telemetry to its fullest potential
Shannon Caraway, Team Adviser, Covenant Cougars Solar Car Team
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| 2:15 PM |
Being an Intern/Judge in the Solar Car Challenge
Triton Shoup, Lead Mechanical Judge
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| 2:30 PM |
Aerodynamics (video)
Chris Jones, Chief Race Judge, Solar Car Challenge
Go farther on less!
Simple ideas that make your care more efficient:
Rolling resistance (tires and bearings)
Reducing the weight of your car with composite materials
Simple body aerodynamics (fairings and coverings)
Complex body aerodynamics (full-size bodies)
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3:30 PM |
Technology in the Solar Car Challenge (video)
Eric Andrechek, Race Technology Director and
Brandon Ching, Special Assistant to Race Director for Teams/Auditing
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Coffee Break |
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| 4:00 PM |
The Importance of Solar Car Project Management (video)
William Shih, Deputy Race Director, Solar Car Challenge Foundation
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| 4:30 PM |
Report from the 2023 Australian Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (video)
Special Presentation by Will Jones, Team Manager, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team
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Dinner Break |
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EVENING CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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| 7:15 PM |
How to Develop Great Mechanical Drawings
Muhammad Sajjad, Siemens Digital Software
A practical workshop designed to help students with CAD Drawings
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| 7:15 PM |
Soldering Workshop: How to properly solder your electrical connections
Coordinated by Chris Jones, Chief Race Judge
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| 8:30 PM |
How to Develop Great Electrical Drawings
Brian Coleman, Somerset Solar Car Team Adviser
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| 8:30 PM |
Question & Answer Session with Dr. Lehman Marks
An opportunity to discuss anything
Coordinated by Christian Negratti, Solar Car Challenge Race Ambassador
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| Sunday, January 29, 2023 |
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| 9:00 AM |
Keynote Speech: The Excitement of Being an Engineer (video)
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| 9:30 AM |
Building the Vehicle Frame - Mechanical (video)
Chris Jones, Chief Race Judge, Solar Car Challenge Foundation
Materials
Safety Cell, Roll bar and crush zones
Suspension & Steering
Wheels and Brakes
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| 10:30 AM |
Meet the Texas A&M Solar Car Team
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Coffee Break |
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| 11:15 AM |
Powering the Solar Car (video)
William Shih, Deputy Race Director, Solar Car Challenge Foundation
Photovoltaic Array
How much energy do you need?
Prefabricated commercial panels vs. custom order panels
Raw cells and lamination
Do-it-yourself arrays
Getting energy to the batteries
Power trackers
Electric Motors
Brushed motors and their controllers
Brushless motors and their controllers
Hub motors and their controllers
Batteries
Figuring ot the kW/h total
Battery testing
The Importance of Battery Connections in the Solar Car Battery Box
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Lunch Break
View the Prosper High School Solar Car and Meet Their Team |
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| 1:15 PM |
Power Management - How to get the most out of your Solar Car (video)
William Shih, Deputy Race Director, Solar Car Challenge Foundation
Input v. Output - what you really get from your panel vs. what you will use going down the road. The importance of communications with your solar car driver.
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| 2:00 PM |
Rules for the 2024 Solar Car Challenge - How the Race will Operate! (video)
William Shih, Deputy Race Director, Solar Car Challenge Foundation
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| 2:30 PM |
Welding Workshop
Hosted by the Wylie East Solar Car Team
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| See agenda above for presentations from the 2023 Specialty Workshop |
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Welcome to the 2022 Solar Car Challenge (11.9 MB)
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks/William Shih - January 14, 2022 |
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Where to Find Materials for the Solar Car Project, updated for 2022 (3.64 MB)
List of Components & Sources, updated for 2021 (29 KB)
Presented by Joel Pitts - January 14, 2022 |
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The Importance of Information Technology and Telemetry in Solar Cars (1.9 MB)
Presented by Eric Andrechek - January 14, 2022 |
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Being an Intern/Judge in the Solar Car Challenge (295 JB)
Presented by Eric Andrechek - January 14, 2022 |
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Electrical Safety (25.6 MB)
Presented by Chris Jones - January 14, 2022 |
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The Importance of Solar Car Project Management (1.9 MB)
Presented by William Shih - January 14, 2022 |
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How to Develop Great Mechanical Drawings (3.6 MB)
Presented by Muhammad Sajjad, Application Engineer, Siemens - January 14, 2022 |
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Engineering Our Future (Keynote Presentation) (24.4 MB)
Presented by Eleanor Nave, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Engineer - January 15, 2022 |
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Building the Vehicle Frame (13.9 MB)
Presented by William Shih - January 15, 2022 |
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Powering the Solar Car (17.1 MB)
Presented by Chris Jones - January 15, 2022 |
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Power Management (2.3 MB)
Presented by William Shih - January 15, 2022 |
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Aerodynamics (5.5 MB)
Presented by Chris Jones - January 15, 2022 |
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Rules for the 2022 Race (6.5 MB)
Presented by William Shih - September 11, 2021 |
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The Importance of Team Oral Presentations and Scrapbook (23.1 MB)
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks - September 11, 2021 |
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Mini-Course in Electrical Engineering (11.0 MB)
Presented by William Shih - September 11, 2021 |
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Mini-Course in Mechanical Engineering (12.1 MB)
Presented by William Shih - September 11, 2021 |
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Things to Remember on a Cross-Country Race (8.2 MB)
Presented by Dr. Lehman Marks - September 11, 2021 |
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How to Pass Scrutineering (7.9 MB)
Presented by Chris Jones - January 19, 2020 |
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Rules for the 2020 Solar Car Challenge (1.4 MB)
Presented by William Shih - January 19, 2020 |
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The Importance of Community Outreach (144 MB)
Presented by the Winston Solar Car Team - January 19, 2020 |
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How to Pass Scrutineering (8.7 MB)
Presented by Taylor Davis - January 20, 2019 |
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Solar Car Suspension (2.2 MB)
Presented by Jarrett Dunn - January 19, 2019 |
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Solar Car Challenge Telemetry (2.8 MB)
Presented by Jarrett Dunn - January 19, 2019 |
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All Saints' Pi-Top Telemetry System (197 KB)
Handout: All Saints' Pi-Top Standard Operating Procedure (272 KB)
Presented by Joseph Smat & Matthew Mildren, All Saints Solar Car Team - January 19, 2019 |
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2018 Solar Car Design Considerations (2.2 MB)
Presented at Teams Workshop - September 9, 2017 |
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Taking a Top and Bottom Mold of MIT (44.3 MB)
Presented by Lee Cabe, Advisor, NFA Solar Racing Team - February 3, 2007 |
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