10/27 Update

Many modifications have been made to 1/12 solar team desig since my last posting.  While the goal of creating a fully solarized system is still our priority, we have many modifications on how we're going to accomplish this.  Originally in our first presentation, we believed using a type of solar farm with full size panels might be the way to achieve fully renewable power.  However after some calculations and reevaluating, we believe that not on only creating a fully powered system with track panels is plausible but also best represents our idea of solar energy.  To ensure that our idea was plausible, calculations were made using small scale panels and bogie requirements.  According to our calculations, 11 panels (P=15.54W, V=7.5V, I=2.0A for each panel) will be needed to power 10 bogies (P=15.8W, V=7.2, I=2.2A for each bogie).  Each panel requires 1 meter in length, which means we will need at least 11 meters of track just for panels.  However, we have discussed extending the width by two or three times (by aligning 2 or 3 panels together) to shorten the length.
Now with the goal of creating a fully powered system with only track panels, we have began our design of the mountings.  We have a couple designs on CAD and are planning to discuss with Ms. Munshi and Dr. Mokri the advantages and disadvantages of each design.  We are also discussing Ms. Munshi and Dr. Mokri, the orientation, shape, and direction to best achieve best performance of the solar panels.  To gather the solar panels required, I have contacted several companies about either donating or discounting solar panels.  Lastly, in case our goal of only using on track panels is not plausible, we have discussed the idea of adding a full size panel to either the center or close proximity to the 1/12 model.  However this idea will only be implemented if the on track panels do not provide sufficient power and extra power is required to create fully solarized system.

10/7 Update

Last week in class, different subgroups presented their topics, ideas, challenges and goals.  After the presentations we did not have that much time to talk, however Allan, Brian, and I have started to meet outside of class occasionally.  I believe this has really benefited us as we were able to prepare for our presentation and discuss major topics involved within it.  Because of our outside meetings, we have been really able to focus on setting clear goals and we have started to be able to communicate better as a team now.  We have also been able to trade knowledge from each other so now we're all about the same page.
Our main goal now is to create a fully solarized system.  We initially thought this was impossible for the scaled model and proposed to create a half operational solar system.  However after discussing the idea of an external solar source, we are now set to create a system fully powered by solar.