2020-2021 Baja SAE Vehicle

The purpose of this project was to design and build a fully functioning vehicle capable of racing competitively at the 2021 Baja SAE competition. The overall project consisted of two major designs; a completely new vehicle frame and the first four-wheel drive system ever implemented on a UT Tyler Baja SAE car. The new frame was designed to reduce the overall vehicle weight and accommodate the four-wheel drive system while increasing driver safety and ergonomics. Similarly, the four-wheel drive system was designed concurrently with the frame to allow for the required clearances and optimize weight distribution. In addition to these two major design projects, there were various sub-systems that required a redesign, such as the suspension, the brakes, and the electrical system. Furthermore, various racing conditions and optimization criteria were considered when designing and testing both the frame and the four-wheel drive system. As such, the new design will ensure driver's safety under various racing conditions while also being able to compete with other design teams at competition.