|
Answers
to Your Frequently Asked Questions
The
judges try to anticipate your questions, since some questions come up
every year. Please keep checking for more entries, as we will be expanding
this page as questions come in. If you have questions, please send them
to Roberta Gorman at gormanr@asme.org
| Q: |
Our team
is considering the use of a "fly by wire" type steering system
for a vehicle that would be entered in the single rider and utility
classes. I am requesting clarification of the rules regarding
energy storage devices. My questions are as follows:
| |
1. |
Do
the rules apply only to energy storage devices that would
contribute to the propulsion of the vehicle? |
| |
2. |
If
energy storage is permitted for the purpose of steering would
the storage device have to be completely discharged at the
beginning of the competition event? |
| |
3. |
Could
the storage device begin the competition with some initial
stored energy if it could be proven that the charging system
of the vehicle provided the majority of the energy used during
the competition event?
|
|
| A: |
Thank
you for your thought-provoking question. I had to review this with
other judges before making a ruling.
The rules,
page 3: "...no device...specifically designed to store energy
for the purpose of propelling the vehicle shall be included in
its drive train. Normal operating components involved in the drive
train...are specifically permitted inasmuch as their design is
not primarily influenced by energy storage considerations."
That said,
a storage device that powers a "drive by wire" system is not specifically
precluded; therefore it is permitted.
However, I
want to caution you. Quoting from the paragraph preceding the
above, "During the safety inspection each team must be prepared
to discuss the safety of the storage device, especially during
high-speed incident." Can you please provide specifics on how
the energy will be stored (i.e., battery etc). As you develop
this idea I want to make sure it is legal from a safety point
of view.
|
| Q: |
If one of
our HPV team members is graduating in December, are they still eligible
to compete in the Spring ASME HPV competition?
|
| A: |
The rules
read:
Excerpt from page 7
"According to ASME rules, individuals who graduate in December
(or later) and were student members of ASME immediately prior
to graduation are eligible to attend ASME meetings in the spring
as student members. With this as a basis, any individual who meets
the requirements of having been (1) a student member of ASME (2)
enrolled as a full-time student (3) in a engineering program of
study, during the previous semester or quarter but who(4) graduate
no earlier than the previous December is eligible to fully participate
in the ASME HPV Competition."
So if they
fulfill the requirements above, they can compete.
|
|
