Kinetic Art

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This is is an example of the kinetic art of Volkert van der Wijk. He has designed the linkage so that it is statically balanced, which allows the observer to position the acrobat in a wide range of positions.

This is an installation of one of Volkert’s pieces which is a linkage balanced so that when the observer provides a small upward push the sculpture lifts and extends, and then slowly collapses when the force is removed.

I was pleased to meet Volkert at the 2012 Advances in Robot Kinematics conference in Innsbruck, where he presented the mathematical theory for static balancing the Acrobat. His other work can be seen at his web page: Kinetic Art

2012 Energy Invitational

2012 UCI Energy Invitational Video

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Here is a rough cut of a video of the 2012 UCI Energy Invitational.

The 2012 UCI Energy Invitational was held at Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, CA. The competition included collegiate teams from UCI, CSULA, UCLA, and Cal Poly Pomona, together with High School race teams from Tustin, Foothill, Esperanza, Pacifica, Los Alamitos and Huntington Beach High Schools as well as two inventor vehicles. The event is a time trial using $1.00 of energy to go a maximum distance in one hour.

 

EI3 Testing

UCI Vehicle Test Run for EI3

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Andre Aranez prepared this video showing the test runs of UCI’s three race cars that are to compete at the 2012 Energy Invitational. Gamma is an all-electric race car with motors at each wheel driven by Litium-ion batteries. Delta is a CNG race car designed for high performance. Epsilon is an FSAE gasoline powered car that won first place in fuel efficiency at the 2011 FSAE California competition.

 

UCI’s CNG racecar “Delta” is preparing for EI3

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Delta CNG vehicle

Delta CNG vehicle

UCI’s CNG racecar “Delta” is being readied for competition at the 2012 Energy Invitational. An on-board video of the first run of this race car can be seen at on the web-page: UCI Racecar Engineering.

UCI’s FSAE racecar “Epsilon” to compete at EI3

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Epsilon FSAE vehicle

Epsilon FSAE vehicle

UCI’s race team will field its gasoline powered FSAE vehicle “Epsilon” at the 2012 Energy invitational. This vehicle won 1st place in fuel efficiency at the 2011 FSAE West competition. Some of the team leads who guide UCI’s race car engineering program are show below with Epsilon.

UCI Team leads

UCI Team leads

UCI’s Electric racecar to compete at EI3

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UCI Electric racecar

UCI Electric racecar

UCI’s electric racecar “Gamma” has an electric motor at each wheel driven by a pack of Lithium-ion batteries. It just completed a test run and is being prepared for the 2012 Energy Invitational at Adams Motorsports Park on May 20th.

Cal Poly Pomona to compete at EI3

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Cal Poly Pomona vehicle

Cal Poly Pomona vehicle

The hybrid race team from California State Polytechnic University Pomona will compete at the 2012 Energy Invitational on May 20th at Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, CA.

Los Alamitos vehicle

Los Alamitos HS race team to join 2012 EI3

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Los Alamitos vehicle

Los Alamitos vehicle

The Los Alamitos HS race team has been invited to the 2012 Energy Invitational at Adams Motorsports Park based on an excellent performance at the Design Review at the 2012 Youth Expo. They will compete agains race teams from Tustin, Pacifica, Esperanza, Huntington Beach and Foothill High Schools.

Esperanza Vehicle 2

Esperanza HS race team preparing for EI3

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The Esperanza HS race team has been invited to the 2012 Energy Invitational based on their performance in the Design Review at the 2012 Youth Expo on April 13 at the OC Fairgrounds. They will join Tustin HS and Pacifica HS at Adams Motorsports Park on May 20th.

Esperanza Vehicle 2

Esperanza Vehicle 2

Chipman Wind to join the 2012 Energy Invitational

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The OC inventor Phil Chipman will enter his all electric three-wheeler in the 2012 Energy Invitational at Adams Motorsports Park. The competition is May 20, 2012.

Chipman Wind

Chipman Wind