The World Solar Challenge has officially made its triumphant return to Australia! It brings together creative thinkers from all over the world to compete in this phenomenal challenge. This biennial made-in-the-Northern-Territory challenge will push the boundaries of solar-powered vehicle technology across a punishing 3,000-kilometer route to Adelaide. Thirty-four teams from various countries are participating, showcasing their engineering expertise and commitment to sustainable transport in a quest for the prestigious trophy.
This year’s Rube Goldberg machine competition is especially exciting because it’s more of a multinational event, with teams from across several continents (Europe, Asia and Australia) competing. Joining the competitors are previous victors Innoptus from Belgium, who made the journey to return to their crown. This challenge provides an exciting, competitive venue for university students as well as professionals. It fosters a fun, collaborative atmosphere in which they can participate in inspiring social encounters about solar technology.
A Showcase of Innovation and Collaboration
From that 2018 debut, the Top Dutch Solar Racing team has made significant revisions to their vehicle design in hopes of making their vehicle more competitive. And, she says, their team member Juliette Evers is excited about their new approach. She continued, “Our highest finish has been fourth but you know why we’ve finished fourth, we invented the new game.
As we said before, other equally inspiring teams have just as much commitment to iterating and perfecting their designs. The Italian team’s entry, Emilia 5.9, nods to Ferrari with its shiny red body and aerodynamically beautiful arched roof. The Deakin University team proudly displaying their vehicle. Of particular note is the inclusion of the Australian and Aboriginal flags, ushering the spotlight toward local culture and identity.
Read here how their team, Belgian Innoptus team member Yarne Billen explains their preparation. “We’ve been training in climate chambers at higher humidity and temperatures, just to see how our bodies react and how our reaction times change,” he explained. This preparation represents the deep commitment that teams make to meet and exceed the rugged outback’s harsh environment.
Navigating Unique Challenges
As teams make their way through the wild terrain of Australia’s outback, they will find themselves in weather conditions harrowing a world away. Kentaro Kiyono from Japan remarked on the challenges posed by the local roads: “In Japan we have such smooth roads; it’s my first time running on such a bumpy road.” This change really emphasizes the unique perspective and experiences that all 16 teams bring to the competition.
Event ambassador and electrical engineer, Chris Selwood, possesses almost three decades of World Solar Challenge experience under his belt. He emphasized that most of the innovations piloted in this race often go on to be used in the real world. “Things that are tested in this competition, by university teams driving down the Stuart Highway, are actually ending up in the real world,” he stated. This link between sometimes esoteric theoretical research and real world implementation is the most important part of the event.
Equally as important is the camaraderie between competitors that makes the event such a special experience. Evers highlighted this shared enthusiasm, saying, “It’s really inspiring being here because we nerd out over a very specific kind of topic, and now we’re surrounded by others who can relate to that.” This sense of community is one of the most wonderful aspects of the World Solar Challenge—the friendships that develop in the thick of this fierce competition.
The Spirit of Team Building
The World Solar Challenge doesn’t just encourage creative breakthroughs, it encourages camaraderie and coalition building on the part of everyone taking part. The more that teams learn to tackle technical challenges, the more they learn the importance of collaboration and creative problem-solving. Ruari Milligan emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “These cars run on the sun and their batteries are pretty small, especially under this year’s regulations.”
Mr. Rubbrecht from one of the competing teams expressed excitement about witnessing various innovations: “It’s very exciting to see all the other teams with their own innovations. We always try and catch up by playing football or having dinner together.” These social exchanges foster that warm, fuzzy, knowledge-sharing vibe you can’t quite put your finger on.
Evers mentioned that some engineers from different teams are already discussing future collaborations: “I think there are a few engineers from different teams who are talking about making a company together someday.” These kinds of conversations and engagements can create dynamic collaborations that outlive the challenge itself.
