Phoenix Graves

CO2 CAR
7 DESIGN STEPS

Understand

Watch Autodesk Inventor Training VideosWhich I watched to help better my

understanding of the project and how to use
inventor.
The objective of the project was to create a
CO2 Car with the least amount of Mass,
because F=ma, and if the force remained the
same, we wanted the highest possible
acceleration, so I wanted to have the car with
the least possible mass while also being
aerodynamic.

Explore

Develop a knowledgeable base

Through researching different types of CO2
cars and the winning cars from competitions
of this nature, I found out that the majority of
them were quite thin and also the wheels
were inside. The car itself usually was
almost shell like. I designed my car so that
the center was hollow, like a shell, and then I
tried to make it as smooth as possible so
that it was more aerodynamic.

Define

Requirements

Scoring Rubric: CO2 Dragster

See CO2 Dragster Overview Step powerpoint for more information and details on completing this
project.

1. CO2 Design Forms Worksheet and Sketches-30 points

Complete worksheet according to Assessment rubric below.

2. Presentation Powerpoint or alternative -50 points

Highlight the seven stages of your design project. Insert Autocad inventor drawings, rendered images, rendered
animation, Design Testing and Results handout, Project falcon screen shot from test, and any sketches. Complete
presentation according to Assessment rubric below.

3. Inventor Drawings-200 points

a. Detailed assembly drawings similar to example project.
b. Presentation video showing axle and wheels assembly with car.
c. 2 Blue print drawings. One showing parts list and balloons and one showing detailed dimensions. Information
tables should be personalized to your project.
d. Final Solution rendered image and video from Inventor studio of finished dragster.

4. Autodesk Flow design wind tunnel

a. Report-50 points -Images and data table from the wind tunnel simulation
b. 2D simulation video- 25 points

5. Construction of CO2 dragster -200 points (given a block of wood 2 front, 2 back wheels, axles, the same parts
as everyone else and also required to be painted.)

Ideate

The pictorial view from my original design turned out to be the most similar to my
ending car.
I tried to create a car with the least amount of mass and also that was
aerodynamic, so I cut a hole in the middle and shaved the car so it was shaped
like a gentle curve.

Prototype

Build/test: My original prototype did not

have paint and the front was not tapered
until the end

Refine

Rebuild/sketches *3
The later changes I made were sanding
down the cut in the center so that it was
more aerodynamic and so the air would
flow out of the back easier instead of
being caught behind the cut.
I tapered the front to save mass
I painted it was bright yellow acrylic
paint for aesthetics.

Solution

When the car was released, it always

went straight and never failed to reach
the ending gates. As for durability, it
always lasted and physically was one of
the stronger cars although because it
was heavier than most, it lost the
majority of the races.
Because I worked with myself, it was
easier to make changes to my car
although the work load was more than
most.
If I was to change anything, I would
make the car thinner and shave off just
more of the car in general.
The car was creative due to its unique
curvatures for air efficiency.
In total, the car weighed 134 grams.
With just the paint, and no wheels or a
cartridge, it was 110 grams, and 104
grams just the body of the car with no
paint.

Video: Solution for Final

Presentation

Autodesk Inventor Car

Inventor Car With

Wheels

Inventor Car Blueprint

(not working)

Autodesk Video

Autodesk Flow Design

Part

Velocity
(m/s)

Avg Cd

Cd

Drag Force % change

(N)
drag force
from blank

Blank

10

.612

.613

.13

----------

Car Without 10
Wheels

1.238

.939

.113

.
13-.113/.13*
100=14

Car/Wheels

10

.671

.621

.195

-50

Blank

25

.308

.204

.254

------------

Car Without 25
Wheels

.396

.328

.278

-9%

Car/Wheels

.694

.671

.239

6%

25

Flow Design Without

Wheels

Flow Design With Wheels

Flow Design Video