UNC Charlotte Baja SAE allows mechanical engineering students to gain real world experience through a controlled design competition utilizing theory learned in the classroom. Each year, the team builds a car within given technical specifications by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
Our team is also working on improving the suspension system for the current car. We are implementing a data acquisition system to read and record values from shock pressure sensors, accelerometers, and GPS loggers. The driver will also be able to adjust the shock pressures through a controlled air system. With this project, coupled with building a new car, the team is busy and ready to do UNC Charlotte proud!
This year’s team is anchored by two senior design groups. Senior Design 2 (May graduates) is led by Caleb Allen and includes Cameron Baker, Josh Bussiere, Jerry Dsouza, Roberto Garcia, Dan Garver, CJ Hall, and Aedan McHugh. Senior Design 1 (December graduates) is led by Dustin Dunn and includes Joshua Baptist, Terrell Britton, and Kenneth Hitt. You can contact the UNCC Baja SAE team directly at unccbajasae@gmail.com and you can visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UNC-Charlotte-Baja-SAE-1317862041622258/.
Before you can race, you need a car. There are more than 1000 fasteners on the Baja car which range from $.50 to $2.50. Donations at this level will help us purchase quality fasteners that keep us safe and let us race hard
Once the car is built, the pit crew keeps it running. The shocks on an off-road vehicle take a beating during testing and competition and need to be taken care of in order to perform. A full set of shocks is a considerable investment, and a donation at this level will allow us to service our shocks and keep them performing at their full potential.
By implementing a data acquisition system, wiring harnesses need to be built and maintained to support the project. Racing grade wiring connectors range from $10 to $60 per connector. Your donation will help us keep our data transmitting and allow for better analysis to be performed after testing and competition.
Tires are round, black, expensive, and in order to test drive a vehicle, it needs tires. The tires for our vehicle cost $90 each and donations at this level will allow us to keep fresh tires on our vehicle to better assess other components of the car.
In order to compete, you need a track to compete on. Your donation will help cover the cost of renting out facilities, which costs about $4000 per session, to test the car so that it competes at optimum performance.