Student team glides to victory on plastic bearings
A team of students from the Université de Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada) earned top honors in two recent Baja SAE competitions.
At the University of
Central Florida competition,
the team captured first place in
overall design, endurance, and overall performance, and second
place in suspension & traction,
design report, and oral judging.
The team also claimed first place
in endurance and suspension & traction and second place
in overall design and
overall performance at
the Rochester Institute of
Technology competition.
The team used iglide Q
plastic bearings from igus
Inc. for pivot points in the
rear suspension and throttle
and brake controls. The
bearings reduced vehicle
weight and withstood the
rigors of the all-weather,
multi-terrain events without
maintenance. igus
supported the team for
the second year in a row
by donating the bearings.
The Baja events challenge
college students to
take a vehicle design from
concept to competition,
combining engineering,
project management, and
commercialization. All
vehicles run on donated
Briggs & Stratton 10-hp
OHV Intek engines and
must complete challenges including
a sled pull, mud bog,
and deep-water, endurance, and
land courses that test traction,
suspension, and maneuverability.
Vehicles are also judged on
design and presentations by the
teams.