Rectilinear eight-bar suspension
This is a design concept for a rectilinear eight-bar suspension. It does not manage body roll but it does provide compact large travel.
Rectilinear eight-bar linkage
This animation was prepared by Yang Liu for a linkage designed by Kaustubh Sonawale. The eight-bar linkage guides the platform in the approximation to rectilinear motion.
Six-bar linkage with rectilinear moving link
This is an animation of a Watt I six-bar linkage with a translating link that does not rotate (select the video to begin the animation). This is obtained using GeoGebra to execute a construction described by E. A. Dijksman in his book Motion Geometry of Mechanisms.
Rectilinear Linkage
KOCE reports on the California Challenge
This video is a news report on the UCI California Challenge: KOCE video.
There is also information at the site: https://storify.com/ucirvine/solar-decathlon-and-xpo-2013-uc-irvine
KOCE California Challenge
Kinematics and Polynomials–available on a Mac
Until yesterday, my iBooks Introduction to Theoretical Kinematics and Kinematics and Polynomials were available only on the iPad, but now with OSX Mavericks they are available on any Mac. Please give it a try. You can download a sample at this link: Kinematics and Polynomials sample.
Preparing for the California Challenge
California Challenge Test Day
Some of the cars being prepared for the California Challenge on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Orange County Great Park.
Mechanical characters
Disney Research guides two degree-of-freedom open chains using the coupler curve of a geared five-bar linkage to obtain geared seven-bar and nine-bar linkages, which they use to move the front and rear legs of their Cyber Tiger. By connecting the driving gears of the four legs, they obtain a one degree-of-freedom system that animates the Cyber Tiger.
The computational design system uses an optimization routine to adjust the coupler curve of the five-bar linkage to approximate a given curve in order to guide the system in a desired movement. The results are terrific, and look a lot like the mechanical toys of the past. Select this link for more information.
2013 Solar Decathlon
Inside Irvine Fall 2013
Inside Irvine has an article about the 2013 Solar Decathlon and XPO at the Orange County Great Park. Select this link to access the on-line magazine. See page 5 for descriptions of each of the 20 Universities competing in this event.
Introduction to Racecar Engineering
The UCI summer program Introduction to Racecar Engineering concluded with a track day on Saturday, August 3. Select this link to see slideshows of the activities.
The California Challenge at the Solar Decathlon
The California Challenge joins three energy efficient racing events
The format of the California Challenge provides a same track same day comparison of the energy performance of a different types of energy efficient racers.
The California Challenge is an energy efficiency time trial. The goal is to achieve the maximum average speed using $1 of energy. The course includes a high speed section, an auto-cross section, and a staged idle section. Maximum distance in one-hour wins using $1 of any combination of energy sources wins. This event is presented as part of the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in association with the Energy Expo.
Select this link for more information about the California Challenge.