Belgian solar car team unveils adaptive ride height system for upcoming world championship
The Innoptus Solar Team, KU Leuven’s team of engineering students competing in solar car races, has on Monday unveiled the second major innovation in its latest solar car, the Infinite Apollo. With the Bounce – an adaptive ride height system – they hope to win their third world title at the world solar car championship in Australia from 24 to 28 August.
The adaptive ride height system is a first in the history of Belgian solar cars. Powered by a hydraulic mechanism, the Bounce allows the Infinite Apollo to change its ride height in real time, depending on speed and road conditions. This improves both stability and aerodynamics, two crucial factors in the race of 3,000 km through the Australian Outback.
“Driving through the Outback is never easy. With a larger solar panel and a smaller battery, the focus is even more on stability. That's why we developed the Bounce, so that the car can adapt to everything we encounter on the road,” said electronic engineer Sam Dilmaghanian of the Innoptus Solar Team.
With a 6-square-metre solar panel, 50 per cent larger than before, a lower chassis is a particular advantage for stability. The Bounce lowers the car for greater stability, for example in strong crosswinds, and raises the ride height on rough or uneven surfaces. The system is designed to respond quickly so that the car can always drive over bumps and obstacles while complying with the rules of the competition. By precisely controlling the car's centre of gravity, the Bounce should give the team more control, flexibility and reliability throughout the race.
“The Bounce is part of a broader trend in the automotive industry, where adjustable ride height systems are increasingly used to allow vehicles to adapt to changing conditions in real time,” said mechanical engineer and driver Lander Deprez.
During the world championship in Australia, the wind is particularly unpredictable and constantly changes direction and strength. That’s why the team introduced another major innovation earlier this year: the Double Fin. The new car is equipped with two asymmetrical fins, each designed to catch wind from one specific side. “With our double fin, we can better deal with fluctuating wind directions and thus gain more practical advantage from the wind,” explained aerodynamic engineer Julie ter Hark.
The world championship, or Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, takes place every two years. The KU Leuven team took home the world title in 2019 and 2023.
#FlandersNewsService | The Infinite Apollo, the 11th solar car by the Innoptus Solar Team © BELGA PHOTO INE GILLIS
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