The 2008 Albury Wodonga Solar Car Challenge is coming up in November 2008. Schools in Victoria are currently manufacturing their remote control solar cars for this annual event as part of the Industry Bridge to Schools Project.

The challenge for students is to develop a solar powered model car that can negotiate as many laps of a defined course as possible within a one hour period.

Schools in the Hume-Riverina area have nominated teams of up to 10 students at Year 8 or 9 level, interested in manufacturing. Engineers from the manufacturing industry link with students to provide mentoring throughout the project. Industry mentors and their student teams develop a solar car that is raced at a competition race day, with industry, school and community partners as spectators.

The industry mentors help train the students, using a curriculum which outlines topics such as how batteries work and how they are created. Students are also taught the essentials of Solar Panels and Cells, DC Motors, Radio contollers, DC Motor Control, Gears and Pulleys, Soldering and the Essential design considerations for building a solar car. Throughout August there are several training days for skills like soldering. Students will then have the skills to create their remote control solar cars.

Thursday 13th of November is a pre-race practise day, and the Solar Car Challenge takes place on Friday November 28th at the Transformer Park, Maloney Drive, Wodonga.

Good luck to all the 2008 Competitors!

[Sourced from: Milspec manufacturing, Australian Industry Group]