Motorsports-STEM for High School Education

1. Indiana STEM Education Conference 2019 Motorsports-STEM (M-STEM) Using Motorsports to Accelerate STEM Education Danny White, Stuart White and Jim M. Caruthers Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907 January 10, 2019

2. Introduction and Purpose • 2009 – Desire to expand electric vehicle education • 2012 – Partnered with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and creation of evGrand Prix World Championship race • 2016 – Experimental High School Race involving 7 karts • Present – Over 30 karts from 25 Indiana Schools

3. Introduction and Purpose • Provide STEM education that links coursework to real world application • Provide students with hands-on technical projects while raising awareness of electric vehicles • Teach students the skills necessary to work within the emerging Electric Vehicle (EV) industry • Introduce students to Motorsports Careers and experience the thrill of racing • Keep the cost of participation at an affordable level for all high schools

4. Career Pathways • BS/MS in Engineering and Technology • Associate Degree • Advanced machining • Robotics • Logistics • Etc. • Industry Certification • Master Electrician • Master Welder • Etc. STEM enabled career pathways STEM connected career pathways • Business • Organizational Leadership • Supply Chain Management • Operations • Etc.

5. Advanced Manufacturing Jobs Texas Instrument Chip Factory Robotic Assembly Pharmaceutical Factory Porsche Engine Factory Polymer Processing Line CNC Machine Shop Advanced Manufacturing Facilities High Tech Clean Not Mindless Assembly Line Pay Good Wages Require STEM-Enabled Workers This are the types of fulfilling jobs that people can have if they have appropriate education

6. Go Kart Science and Technology evGrand Prix Program evGrand Prix Components • STEM Curriculum built around an electric go kart • Integrates STEM subjects to the evGrand Prix Program • Data Collection through use of Physics Box : • Acceleration/Velocity • Power to motor • G-Force • Pedal Position • Content specific lessons and materials: • Analysis of Newton’s Laws • Mechanical & Electric Systems • Go kart Setup • Battery Technology • Build, Set-up and Race an electric go-kart • High School evGrandPrix held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of Indy500 festivities • Education event requiring multiple skill sets • 35% Race Placement • 15% Energy Efficiency • 15% Engineering Design • 15% Project Management & Marketing • 15% Community Outreach • 5% Creative Expression • Important 1st year topics. • Science, Engineering and Technical skills, Project Management, Design, Fabrication, Public Speaking. High School evGrandPrix Physics Box

7. Components cont. • Student Teams (5 to 20 or more students) • Teams must raise some/all of money from the local community • Teams include a wide array of talents  career pathways • Engineering design • Manufacturing • Project Management • Advertising/Marketing • Communications • The local manufacturing & business community supports the team • Financially • Support – technical, manufacturing, business, advertising • Interested parents/grandparents often help with the go-kart • Integrated teamwork • Includes STEM and non-STEM career pathways • Includes university bound, Associate Degree bound & industry bound students on the same project • Helps prepare students to be college and/or career ready

8. Yearly Tasks • 1st Year participants • Complete marketing and sponsorship curriculum materials • Create a budget and purchase required components • Complete kart assembly curriculum materials • Collect data during spring test and tune events • Refine setup and acquire track experience • Teams with Prior Experience • Complete marketing and sponsorship curriculum materials • Create a budget and purchase required components • Collect data during fall karting science Saturday events • Redesign previous years kart based on fall events data • Revisit kart assembly curriculum materials during kart rebuild • Collect data during spring test and tune events • Refine new kart setup and acquire track experience • All Participants • Document all steps and prepare presentations for academic challenge • Meet all tech inspection and safety requirements

9. Important Rules and Regulations • The race chassis selected and certified for the competition is a commercially available “Sprint Kart” chassis. • The approved tire for the series will be manufactured by HOOSIER Racing Tire. • All karts must be equipped with a commercially available front crushable, which is attached to the front bumper to minimize shock in the event of a front impact. • Only Interstate Battery SLA1155 or SLA1156 are allowed in the High School Series. • The system may use any combination of battery instantaneous voltage and instantaneous current, as long as this value does not exceed 10kW.

10. Important Rules and Regulations cont. • The Motenergy ME0708 PMDC brushed DC motor is the spec motor for the high school series. • The Alltrax SPM 48300 or SR 48300 are the only acceptable motor controllers allowed. • High school karts have a minimum weight as raced and including driver and all safety equipment at 420 lbs. • Each team will be provided with an “Energy Efficiently Rating” in the Academic Challenge Summary sheet at the awards ceremony. The ratings will be ordered from least amount of energy to most and assigned a place value. Your placement will be assigned to a point value from 0 to 15. If there is a tie, then Race Placement will be the tie-breaker.

11. Driver Protective Clothing • Helmet • Driver’s suit must be manufactured for racing. Suit must be constructed of heavy weight, abrasion resistant nylon. • The driver’s suit must cover the ankles and wrists while seated in the kart. Exposed skin will result in a black flag penalty. • To prevent or minimize abrasions, all drivers shall wear gloves of Kevlar, leather or vinyl material. • The driver shall wear approved neck brace, socks covering the ankles, and full coverage sturdy shoes, boots or racing shoes. • The driver shall wear an approved rib protector under his or her suit. • Long hair -­‐ No hair may be outside of the helmet. A head sock or other method must be used to restrain hair. This is a black flag offense.

12. Data Collection Run kart at track or during Karting Activity. • Physics Box Download Data from Physics Box Data Analysis for design and setup improvements • Data collection allows teams to explore all aspects of go kart racing, including: • How is kart setup influence kart performance? • How does changing kart dynamic affect kart response? • How does driver performance improve as experience increases? • What affect does kart setup and driver experience affect battery performance and energy efficiency?

13. Data Collection Activities Left hand turns resulting in positive (+) acceleration Right hand turns resulting in positive (-) acceleration for approximately 2 seconds for approximately 4 seconds A B

14. Karting Activities • Learn – Learn the science content behind specific motorsports applications i.e. Gears and Gear Ratios • Practice – Classroom curriculum provides immediate feedback on understanding and application • Collect Data – Go Kart specific activities provide hands-on application, Physics Box allows for immediate data collection and analysis

15. Balance and Center of Mass Content studied science class relates directly to motorsports and evGrand Prix Karting Science Curriculum. Karting Science Curriculum in-turn reinforces science content and provides a context for learning within the classroom.

16. Go Kart Science • Various Go-Kart Science projects • Straight line velocity and acceleration • Centrifugal acceleration and force • Energy and power • Kart balancing • Gear ratios and torque • Determining Geometric Race Line • Ground Effects and Airflow • Other projects under development • Fall Events • teams meet at various go-kart tracks around the state on specific Saturdays in the fall • Safety training • Kart data collection/test workshops • Academic competition workshops – prepare for winter events • Work with new teams as they develop their go-kart

17. Go Kart Science cont. • Various Go-Kart Science projects • Technical drawings • Equipment and systems calculations • Steering and steering components • Batteries and battery technology • Circuits and circuit components • Motor controller and energy • Ground Effects and Airflow • Other projects under development • Winter Events • teams meet at various go-kart tracks around the state on specific Saturdays in the fall • Safety training • Kart design/build workshops • Academic competition workshops – prepare for spring events • Work with new teams as they develop their go-kart

18. Go Kart Science cont. • Various Go-Kart Science projects • Steering and Steering component setup • Powertrain setup • Acceleration and braking • Kart balancing • Gear ratios and torque • Determining Geometric Race Line • Energy efficiency • Motor controller setup • Other projects under development • Spring Events • teams meet at various go-kart tracks around the state on specific Saturdays in the spring • Safety training • Kart setup/test workshops • Academic competition workshops – prepare for IMS event • Work with new teams as they develop their go-kart

19. World Championships Indianapolis Motor Speedway • At Indianapolis Motor Speedway • Week prior to Pole Day (IndyCars are running) • Academic Competitions: Not just a race • 35% race placement • 15% energy efficiency • 15% engineering design • 15% community outreach • 15% management & marketing • 5% art/design • Community Celebration • Connection to collegiate teams (Purdue, IvyTech, etc.) • Presence of media – just like high school basketball and football (school size doesn’t matter)