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there is sun. One of the biggest barriers solar cars face colleges, universities, technical schools and apprentice for wide adoption, he said, is the amount of surface area programs. It’s also a chance to learn the capabili- required to be dedicated to the solar cells. Thus, it may ties of Fluke Connect, a relatively new wireless test
be more feasible for battery powered electric cars to and measurement system that includes Bluetooth- or be charged by larger solar arrays on rooftops of resi- Wifi-enabled tools, a phone app, a web interface and a dential homes rather than have the solar cell atop cars. cloud-based storage system.
Some solar charging stations are even currently being developed in California. Still, the solar car remains an incredible learning project and advances are made every year in the various systems that make up the car.
The students obtain practical experience using con- nected meters and an infrared camera. The tools enable them to automatically capture measurement data and share it with their peers. And their feedback on their
While gearing up for the Formula Sun Grand Prix, the experiences will help Fluke develop and improve the University of Kentucky team won the inaugural Fluke growing Fluke Connect system.
Connect Student Contest. A panel of judges determined the UK solar racer crew best demonstrated how using Fluke tools improved their project and mad sharing those findings easier.
Fluke Connect contest winners
The team collected their championship prize with a paid trip to the Seattle area and Fluke headquarters where
The winners of the Fluke Connect Student Contest were determined by which team made the biggest impact using the Fluke Connect system–with 75 percent of the decision based on evaluation by six industry judges
and 25 percent on the public vote on Facebook. The University of Kentucky Solar Car Team was among four finalists.
they met with executives, engineers and even the team Part of their submission was a video posted on YouTube of engineers and product designers that developed the in which the students highlighted their objectives, meth-
hardware and software they used in their winning entry. ods and successes.
Chris Heintz serves as the solar car team’s mechanical Five of the principal team members–students Morgan, leader. Daniel Cambron, John Broadbent, Zach Reeder and
“It was great to see and meet with the whole Fluke Connect team,” said Heintz, “and see what we did with (Fluke Connect) aligned with what they imagined we would do with it.”
Heintz, along with advisor Matthew Morgan, made the visit to Fluke Park, north of Seattle. Besides a meeting with Fluke leaders and tour of the plant, the group also toured the nearby Boeing plant as well as the Future of Flight Aviation Center next door.
The Fluke Connect contest aims to test the skills, innova-
tion and a business application of students enrolled in Article continued on page 14
Find more articles on www.fluke.com/flukenews
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