ARG: Design Competition

The first stage of the Design Competition organized by the Automotive Research Group, at EME College, in a bid to raise the bar, or create one, with regards to College's participation in the Shell Eco-marathon 2011, was held on Thursday, 7th October.

Despite rumour's of a delay, and one team's insistence that their design would be plagiarized, it all went as planned. 6 teams presented their design, plans and progress: 3 each for the Urban Concept and Prototype categories. 4 teams seemed to want to rely only on the internal combustion engine, one each for a series hybrid and all-electric vehicles.

Electronic Fuel Injection was a popular claim. Simulations and final design stages was apparently the progress report. Here is a look at each of the teams:
1. Pakwheelers
Urban Concpet - Gasoline
The team that voiced fear of their ideas being copied naively presented the most detail in design. So much so that they were cut short slightly. While keeping to the Hybrid concept from last year, they said that they were aiming for an EFI system. This would complicate their circuitry, and we might see a repeat of this year's performance again. Anyway, their 'master stroke' was a rear diffuser for aerodynamic efficiency. Interestingly, EMENENTS (that's us) had already done preliminary CFD analysis with a rear diffuser. Despite their tantrums, they look among the favorites to go through.

2. Team Panache
Urban Concept - Gasoline
With their name as that of the GIKI team from last year, the hallmark of their design was a small sized CVT. They have a large team, with help from Post-Graduate students, but they also have lots of dead weight too.

3. Primus
Prototype - Plug-in Electric
They took the event in their stride, and impressed everyone, with a great presentation. With their focus on an all-electric vehicle, with everything in the right place, awesome computer simulations, experienced team, they have emerge as early favorites to go through.

4. Emenents
Urban Concept - Gasoline
Their focus was on simplicity and reliability, and the introduction of an EFI system. Captain Barbossa's presentation was generally thought to be better-than-expected, but I thought it was rubbish as usual.

5.
Prototype - Gasoline
This team didn't have a name. Apparently. Nothing very remarkable.

6.
Prototype - Gasoline
I forgot their name. But the presentation was in Urdu, which was nice to see. Less pretense that way. Going for EFI, and looking for a 'win-win' situation. Whatever that is.

What else:

• Mergers on the cards. My expert analysis says 4 teams could be given the ticket. 2 finances.
• A Quality Control team headed by Sir Fareed and a witch, to overlook the compliance to rules and overall quality of the vehicles
• Next round, with greater focus on design, to be held later this month