Controls Team
What We Do
The Controls team designs and builds the car, including all mechanical and electronic components. The Controls team also programs the Raspberry Pi control system. We integrate the chemical reactions and the battery into one operational car. Therefore, we frequently work with the Chemistry and Battery subteams to implement their components of the car and to help brainstorm ideas for new batteries and new chemistry.
Controls team members spend most of their time constructing and wiring the car, programming the electronics, and testing/troubleshooting the car throughout many trial runs. We collect data on reaction times, battery voltages, car distance, calculated code variables, etc. from each trial to analyze and improve the car’s performance. Work within the Controls subteam is a mix between technical and creative.