Soap Box Division

 To provide children who have special needs with the self-esteem building experience of racing soap box cars.  The team must design and build specially equipped cars that will accommodate both the child and a co-driver.

 Determine Project Partner’s needs  Analyze data taken from the regular Soapbox Derby Cars  Construct a Super Stock Soap Box Derby  Derive new concepts for a new Challenger Division Car  Create a computer generated Design of a 2 seat Challenger Soapbox Derby Car

 Build and construct two Challenger Division cars for competition  Analyze the data taken from those cars to create a final production design  Construct a re-sellable car kit that can be distributed across the nation  Promote the Superkids Challenger Division on a national level.

 Make the car wider.  Keep it simple and safe.  Try to maintain the look of regular stock car.  Make the car stronger and more durable.  Make it as easy as possible for a child with special needs to get in the car..  Design it so that it may be repeatedly built by companies and families alike.

 160 lbs. estimated weight limit per rider.  425 lbs. payload.  10ft long x 20in wide x 18in tall.  Steering is under car and uses a chain and sprocket idea that is protected by a skid pad.  Uniform Shell.  Keep the same current braking system.  Axles will be located beneath the car.  5 point safety harness.  Lead weight distribution system.  Metal bracket for an optional head restraint.  A feedback steering system for the child with disabilities.

Creating a Team: Talked with Julie Shaw and her son, who races in the challenger division. Created our project charter. Research and general designs. Informing the public. Building a super stock car.

Current Progress Met with the Lafayette Soap Box Derby board members. Reviewed Lafayette’s current Challenger car. Currently revising our original designs.

 Concepts  Adjustable seat  Retractable shell  New wheels, new brake system  Water ballast system

 Solid (non-retractable) shell  Chassis  Chain and sprocket steering system  Braking system  Weight balance system  Stationary seat  Wheels  Feed-back system  Axles

18”

10’ 20” Floor Board

F a1 F a2 F d1 F d2 4’ 1’ 2.5’ 10’ Factor of Safety of 1.25, yields

Will attach sprockets that can be purchased off the shelf and attach to axles. Sprockets will be of different sizes to achieve a gear ratio to make the steering similar to the current cars Sprockets Chain

 Use current braking mechanism with a larger brake pad

 For the child with disabilities, we will have a steering wheel and brake connected to part of the car that will provide resistance, such as using a spring.  However, the child will have no direct control.

 Weight balancing will use existing weights from Lafayette Soap Box Derby mounted on a bolt  Off the shelf seat will be used  Use axles found on current challenger car  Use existing wheels

 Force analysis performed more in depth on the chassis as well as perform FEA  Find the stress on the axles

 Improve upon the current design of the existing cars.  Create a computer generated layout of a 2 seat Challenger Soapbox Derby Car  Build and Construct 2 Challenger Division cars for competition in spring.  Our ultimate goal is a re-sellable car kit that can be distributed across the nation

We’re always open to suggestions and looking for improvements, if something was unclear we can help to clarify it now.