Application 310

Stanford Solar Car Dyno

Application Summary

Stanford's 2013 Solar Car Project team utilized FUTEK's Shaft to Shaft Rotary Torque Sensor to emulate what the motor will be subjected to on race day through a dynamometer.

Products in Use

One Shaft-to-Shaft Rotary Torque Sensor (TRS Series) paired with Instrumentation (IPM650, IHH500 or USB520).

How it Works

The Stanford Solar Car Project team wanted to add a clever twist to their dynamometer (dyno): implement one of Xenith’s regenerative brakes as its energy absorber.
This setup would allow them to simultaneously study the efficiency of their regenerative braking system while testing their motor.
To gain perspective on if this approach could be realized, the SSCP Team called on the experts at FUTEK.
Consulting led to a clear direction that their dyno would need a TRS605 Rotary Torque Sensor at the center of its measurement system.
The TRS Series sensor integrates a rotary encoder with a freely spinning torque transducer.
The TRS605 could then be situated directly between the motor’s crankshaft and the regenerative brake allowing the both torque and displacement measurements to be simultaneously captured by a single sensor.
The USB520 is the ideal data exchange solution for systems that require translation of rotary torque encoder readings, such as angle and speed. Its compact and robust design also makes the USB520 fitting for this type of application.