About Us

Our History

The Northwestern University Solar Car Team (NUsolar) is an undergraduate student organization that designs, builds, and races solar-powered vehicles. 

NUsolar was founded in 1997 by students and faculty at Northwestern University. Our first car, Sun Cat, was completed in 1999. Since then, we have built seven more vehicles and participated in over 10 solar car races.

Our mission is to enhance the education and career preparation for Northwestern students by providing hands-on project management, design, and manufacturing experience in addition to providing an outlet for students to demonstrate their skills and commitment to potential employers. We also promote alternative energy by increasing the “green” energy awareness in the community and demonstrating the feasibility of solar power.

 

NUsolar is open to any enrolled Northwestern students.

 
 
 
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Cars
Members
Years of Experience
%
Solar Power

4 Teams Make up NUsolar

Mechanical Team

Goal: Design, Analysis, Manufacturing, and Testing of SC8 into SC9

Grouped in 4 sub teams of Chassis, Aerobody, Suspension, and Ergonomics

Operation on a 2 Year Cycle:

  • Year 1: Heavy Design Emphasis, Start Manufacturing
  • Year 2: Heavy Manufacturing Emphasis, System Integration, and Testing
Skills you will learn: 
  1. Design

    1. Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

    2. Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

    3. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

    4. Reading and Making Engineering Drawings

  2. Manufacture

    1. Heavy-Duty Tools

    2. Materials

Electrical Team

Goal: Ensure all Electrical Systems Within the Car Communicate and Function as a Whole

Current Projects Include: Solar Array, Battery Box, Driver Interface, PI Board, DC-DC Board, Light Board, and Driver & Motor Controllers

Skills you will learn:

  1. Basics of Electronics + Car Overview
  2. Electrical Safety
  3. Soldering and Fabrication
  4. Schematic Analysis
  5. Altium/PCB Design
  6. CAD & 3D Printing

Software Team

Goal: Gather real time data from the car, display to driver and pit crew, and data analysis.

Current Projects Include: Onboard Display, Base Station Display, Onboard GPS Module, Onboard Front-Facing Camera, Advanced Data Analysis 

Skills you will learn: 

  1. Hands-On Debugging
  2. Systems Programming
  3. Rust
  4. Exposure to Industry Tools
 
No experience needed, just a willingness to learn!

Business Team

Goal: Manage operations of Solar Car Team through procurement budget, sponsor, alumni, and corporate relationships, and industry exposure

Current Projects Include: Purchasing and budgeting for SC9, Sponsorship Outreach, Alumni Homecoming Event, Maintaining relationships with Alumni and Corporate Connections

Skills you will learn: 

  1. Budgetting
  2. Procurement
  3. Supply Chain Analysis
  4.  Supplier Relationships
  5. Excel
  6. Logistics
 All Majors Welcome!

Advisors

Nivedita Arora

Dr. Arora is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and an Allen K. and Johnnie Cordell Breed Junior Professor of Design

Michael Rubenstein

Dr. Rubenstein is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and affiliated with the Master of Science in Robotics Program.

Jeremy Keys

Dr. Keys is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Mechanical Engineering department.