The Skyline College Engineering and Robotics Club competed in the seventh annual Sacramento Municipality Utility District (SMUD) Solar Regatta held at the Rancho Secco Recreational Area Southeast of Sacramento on May 5, 2018. The team consisted of 10 students and 4 faculty members who embarked to the Rec area and campsite Friday afternoon.
The competition was to design, build, and race a fully functional solar powered boat through various obstacle courses. A major factor in this competition is sustainability; with limited resources and developing strategies through team collaboration, students used technology accessible through the Engineering Fabrication Lab where they designed and manufactured a solar powered boat. Recycled materials were used, primary boat components including the dual catamaran system were manufactured and assembled all at Skyline College!
Sticking with tradition, the team camped onsite the night before the race, accompanied by other teams from across northern California. The atmosphere was exhilarant: filled with team spirit, and good vibes the evening before the regatta and throughout the competition on Saturday. It was the finale of a 10-month journey for the team and an astounding component to these students’ experience at Skyline College.
Within the competition, the students had to perform in three challenging races, present their work through a poster presentation, and speak to the judges regarding the motor and electrical system, mechanical design, and design sustainability, in which they ranked 3rd place! Throughout every obstacle course, the team left their competitors in the waves. The team was also recognized for their artistic motto: the Cali Bae Laurel, named after the native Californian plant Bay Laurel, which inspired the design of the catamaran boat. The Skyline team made a solid 8th place in the overall regatta ranking.
This is Skyline College’s 4th time competing in the SMUD Solar Regatta.
Acknowledgments must go to the support provided by the SMT Division, SOCC, Kinesiology, and Facilities departments.
Students who attended: Alvarez, Arnaldo; Darmawan, Livia; Fountaine, Anasaniquo; Grelli, Gianni; Hercules, Alex; Iacobacci, Raymond; Lin, Naing; Messier, Daniel; Quintos, Mikaela; Weber, Jonathan; Yu,Clifford
Faculty members who attended:
* Nick Kapp (Bio Technology)
* Maryam Khan (Engineering)
* Nick Langhoff (Engineering)
* Marco Wehrfritz (Engineering)
Thanks for the support of the Facility department of letting us using the truck, the Kinesiology department for the van, the SOCC for the tent and all the other helping hands!
Written by Marco Wehrfritz and Maryam Khan
