UM Solar wins Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge

Submitted by Bronco648 on
By only a small margin, the team was the first to cross the finish line on the last day of the competition. Overall, Quantum finished roughly two and a half minutes ahead of the second place team, Petroleum Institute.
The team has a history of strong performances in global solar competitions, but this is the first race they have won on an international stage.
One more layer of firsts was the team’s partnership with Abu Dhabi University, ADU. More than a dozen ADU engineering students joined the U-M squad throughout the event.
“This was a really, really good experience, and it was fun learning about how the car works,” says Mohamed Mukhashin, a fourth year mechanical engineering student at Abu Dhabi University. “Everyone was very friendly and it was impressive to watch their work ethic. Hopefully in two years we will have our own car and be able to be in the race with our new friends.”
The team was awarded their trophy by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi at the opening ceremonies of the 2015 World Future Energy Summit, which kicks off Abu Dhabi Sustainability week. Quantum will be on display in various venues through the weeklong event.

Congratulations to UM Solar on their first international victory. You can read the whole story HERE

Next up is the World Solar Challenge, in Australia, in October. Go Blue!

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julesh

January 20th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^

Just found out last night that my second cousin, once removed was on the team. Apparently much of the team was alumni because timing wasn't ideal for current students.

Joined: 11/28/2011

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Evil Empire

January 20th, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^

You share a set of grandparents with your first cousins.

You share a set of great-grandparents with your second cousins.

You share a set of great-great-grandparents with your third cousins.

And so on.

Second cousin once removed is either the child of your second cousin or the second cousin of your parent.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 9077

AZ-Blue

January 20th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^

that "Petroleum Institute's" focus would be on solar power.

Very cool win for our UM sustainability engineers in the non-sustainable power capital of the universe.

That whole story reads like it's written by the Mad Hatter (NTMH).

Joined: 10/03/2014

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gbdub

January 20th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^

Actually they've been doing a lot of solar work in the UAE, for obvious reasons (tons of sun and land that's not terribly useful for anything else). PI played a big role in creating the race, and had a very new, but extremely well funded team.

Plus all the Emirates (and by extension their universities) are run by ludicrously wealthy oil sheiks who love to lavishly spend money on cool and expensive but not necessarily practical things. Solar race cars are insanely cool, stupidly expensive, and laugh at practicality. QED.  

Joined: 02/16/2010

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justingoblue

January 21st, 2015 at 2:53 AM ^

There was a very cool little documentary on Netflix about Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, which uses a lot of the latest in renewable energy technology. At least some there are trying to parlay their experience in oil into more futuristic sources of energy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/masdar-a-green-city-bloomberg-brink-05-1…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdar_City

Joined: 11/16/2010

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Zoltanrules

January 20th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^

I hear Harbaugh made an in-home and is getting a 5 star ChemEng who was committed to Petroleum Institute to flip to UM.

Seriously, this is awesome! Go Blue!

Proud UM Engineer '83

Joined: 08/23/2009

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