13 replies to this topic

[Tahiti Joe]

Im currently doing a National Diploma in Motorsport Engineering at college. As part of my second year qualification we have to design and build a project to do with vehicles. The criteria is very vague, the main thing being is that it has to be to do with motor vehicles, can be cars or bikes, road use or for motorsport. One of the key things though is it has to be a new idea, or a new approach to an existing one. In the past people have done all kinda things, from heated washer bottles so that the jets don't freeze up too a guy a couple of years ago that brought a Volvo estate and chopped the roof off, fitted a cage and made a convertible-estate Frankenstein type thing! So yeah can be pretty much anything! Cheers in advance, Joe!

[olds_kool_lews]

Remote control robin reliant? ;)

[Tahiti Joe]

Haha, its a cool idea, but i should of mentioned that the project has too be funded all by myself! Plus something that would be half useful afterwards would be a bonus as well! Not sure how useful a remote controlled 3 wheeler would be...

I've got experience with and access to Mini's (obviously!), Land Rovers and several motorbikes.... Im preparing a rally car as well so anything that could tie in with that would be ace!

[Alex_B]

For my motorsport engineering degree first year project I am just doing a research project but next year I think I will look into designing and making a front subframe for a Vtec or something

something along those lines?

not sure how much you cover on national diploma

[blacktulip]

 dragons_den_james_duncan_big.jpg   91.38K   3 downloads

how about a baby bottle warming chamber that can heat a bottle whilst they are on the move using their heater circuit.

for that reason..... I'M OUT!!!

Edited by blacktulip, 26 November 2012 - 08:58 PM.

[minimarco]

Electric mini!

[sonikk4]

A heated steering wheel for your mini when the heater fails.

[smudger068]

Were are you dong your Diploma, Just i see your in Kent, and im doing a Motorsport Engineering Degree at Havering College,
I would advice something to do with suspension setup and optimisation then evaluate to why!
Dampers, springs, ride heights etc

www.funkmotorsport.com

Edited by smudger068, 26 November 2012 - 09:37 PM.

[Tahiti Joe]

I did think about making up a conversion subframe, but i have 2 minis, one is a 1970 genuine Cooper 'S', and there is no way that that is having an engine conversion! And the other is my rally car, so making the subframe is well and good, but i wouldnt have anything to put it in!

Electric mini!

I cant get another one.... No really... Really really, i cant!

A heated steering wheel for your mini when the heater fails.

I couldnt possibly do that to my OMP Velocita Superleggero....! Nice idea though, cheers!

Were are you dong your Diploma, Just i see your in Kent, and im doing a Motorsport Engineering Degree at Havering College,
I would advice something to do with suspension setup and optimisation then evaluate to why!
Dampers, springs, ride heights etc

www.funkmotorsport.com

I'm studying at Mid Kent college in Maidstone! Yeah i was thinking of something along them lines before.... Also i've done a fair amount of work with electrics in the past, so was perhaps thinking of making up a rev-limiting/launch control system...?

Keep the ideas coming guys, and i really am thankful for all of them!

[Alex_B]

why not look into setting up the rally mini, from a motorsport point of view to improving it in one way or another?

[smudger068]

Mark Andrews isnt one of your lecturers by any chance is he?
If you done an engine conversion on the mini wouldnt it render it useless in terms of rules and regs?

www.funkmotorsport.com

Edited by smudger068, 27 November 2012 - 07:20 AM.

[Tahiti Joe]

why not look into setting up the rally mini, from a motorsport point of view to improving it in one way or another?

It's undergoing several erm... Several improvements currently actually. I did mention it to them before but never got a definitive answer, surely preparing a rally car is one of the biggest and most varied projects that can be undertaken?

Mark Andrews isnt one of your lecturers by any chance is he?
If you done an engine conversion on the mini wouldnt it render it useless in terms of rules and regs?

www.funkmotorsport.com

Never heard of Mark Andrews buddy sorry! Wouldnt necessarily make it useless with regards to regs, but an engine conversion for me is pretty unnecessary, as i already have several stonking engines!

[myminimonster]

not sure if you would class it as motorsport or software design but have you heard of the micro computer called a Raspberry Pi?

If you go on their forum and look up in projects you will see that people have made race car data loggers with them. The computer itself is ran on 5v and is only about £35 to buy. It runs lunux software . You can have external pins that can be controlled to connect such as sensors, relays and led displays etc.

Maybe you could build an all in one car track data logger with things like outside air temp, speed etc.

it might be a bit ambitious trying to learn the sw programming at the same time but its cheap and after buying one off ebay or something you can get straight onto it. I have looked at them myself but got a bit swamped by it wondering where to start. I am getting old now and my learning head fell off a while back...

here is the forum thread i mentioned
http://www.raspberry...ack car#p178447


Good luck with your project.

Adie

[Tahiti Joe]

not sure if you would class it as motorsport or software design but have you heard of the micro computer called a Raspberry Pi?

If you go on their forum and look up in projects you will see that people have made race car data loggers with them. The computer itself is ran on 5v and is only about £35 to buy. It runs lunux software . You can have external pins that can be controlled to connect such as sensors, relays and led displays etc.

Maybe you could build an all in one car track data logger with things like outside air temp, speed etc.

it might be a bit ambitious trying to learn the sw programming at the same time but its cheap and after buying one off ebay or something you can get straight onto it. I have looked at them myself but got a bit swamped by it wondering where to start. I am getting old now and my learning head fell off a while back...

here is the forum thread i mentioned
http://www.raspberry...ack car#p178447


Good luck with your project.

Adie

Cheers for the reply Adie, i really like the idea, i've been a bit of a computer nerd in the past and even had a few severs on Linux so it might be something to play with! Again thanks for the idea, i'll definitely be looking into it atleast!