Long Overdue UPDATE

It has been quite some time since we at CMSS have updated this blog. Like always, the last month has been very exciting and consequently, very busy. We have completed the hull, propulsion, and electrical systems. We have field tested the boat at Lake Arthur where those who went got to drive the wild beast. We also were able to show off our research to the entire university at Meeting of the Minds, an event displaying various topics students have researched throughout the semester/year. After a long (but successful) day of presenting our work, we held a BBQ for both the team members, but more importantly to the sponsors, moral supporters, friends, and family of CMSS. It was a great time had by all and the food hit the spot. Hat's off to Bernie and his Business/Marketing team.

After finals, those who were still around campus took the boat north for a second round of testing. We crossed our fingers for a dry day... and later realized some extra fingers would have been nice. It was a sometimes wet, but always brisk day, but nothing short of a hurricane was going to stop Nessie nor her team! We spent the whole day on the lake testing how the boat performed as well as giving people the chance to drive. It was a good day and we were able to find some bugs in the system that needed to be worked out.

Next week, we will be headed to the competition. We are VERY excited to see how we stack up against the other competitors. Also exciting is the percentage of the team able to travel to Arkansas. It's going to be a great week of solar boating excitement!

And now for some pictures!

Meeting of the Minds

A panoramic shot of the boat, the many posters, and a tired team after an intense day of presenting.

CMSS members in action - spreading the good word of Nessie and her potential to rule the world!

Lluis explaining to two Ford ambassadors what the hull group researched before deciding on the final hull design.

A group photo of most everyone during the first annual CMSS post MoM BBQ. (FACMSSPMoMBBQ for short)

Some fine looking gentlemen all anxious to taste what they smell cooking on the grill

Lake Testing

Will looks over the propulsion system before the boat is put in the water.

Nessie's front end glistening in the water

Lluis heading off to do some official testing.

When the rain came, we just worked under this tarp. It was a good team building experience!

A bird's eye view of the boat's power system.

A closer look at some of the electrical components that powers the propulsion system.

The gearing, complete with belt tensioner in the propulsion system.

Autopilot...

Yours truly in the boat!! If this isn't shameless self indulgence, i don't know what is!

-Andrew

Writer's Note: There will be frequent updates while we are in Arkansas. We will be keeping our supporters up to speed on the happenings in the deep south.