Samuel Ray-Alverson

Problem

As a sophomore taking Dynamics, my project team needed a balloon-powered vehicle in order to perform the following calculations: center of mass along each axis, average velocity and average acceleration of the vehicle, and the thrust provided to the vehicle.

Design Requirements

• Your solution can only use one balloon
• The balloon must be the only source providing “driving power” / “thrust”
• Your team must construct and test at least one solution
• The vehicle must travel at least 5 feet
• The vehicle should go as straight as possible
• The vehicle should not fall apart while in motion

Solution

Being the team member with the most experience in CAD and 3D printing, I designed a lightweight vehicle that was quickly printed, did not require supports, and was easily assembled.

What I Learned

Once we tested the car, I realized I could have improved the design, and thus the performance, by making the vehicle longer and adding weight to lower the center of mass.