Solar Car and Aerodynamics

This summer, the University of Michigan Solar Car team raced their way to a national championship title at the American Solar Challenge (ASC), a multi-day competition covering 2,120 miles between Tennessee to Wyoming. This is the first time the team has competed in the U.S.-based solar car competition since 2018, providing the opportunity to re-establish themselves as the best in the country, something the team last achieved with their national championship in this event in 2016. 

Among the key contributors was one of Michigan Aerospace’s own students, Isaac Darragh who has been a part of the team since 2022 and played a pivotal role as the Aerodynamic Lead this year, helping propel the team to this momentous victory.

“This past year has been incredibly challenging. Competing in the U.S. for the first time since 2018 and having only a few months to redesign and rebuild the car put a lot of pressure on the team and leads in particular. Despite facing critical scrutiny from ASC scrutineers when submitting design ideas, our hard work paid off,” Darragh commented after the team’s win.

As an Aerospace Engineering senior and Ann Arbor native, Darragh said he has always had a passion for science and math, making a degree in Engineering a natural fit. With a long-time fascination with space, he was quickly drawn to the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department after obtaining an associates degree at a local community college. After joining the University of Michigan, he quickly joined the Solar Car team and began helping them on their path to achieving their National Championship title. 

“The Solar Car team became a fantastic way to apply my theoretical knowledge and collaborate in a team setting. I’ve been part of the team since my first semester, and it has become like a second home,” Darragh stated. “Astrum [the team’s solar car] competed in the World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia, securing a fourth place finish. This summer, we competed in ASC and cruised to a first place finish, earning our tenth national title.”

Since joining the team in the Winter of 2022, Darragh has been involved with their aerodynamics subteam, starting with Computer Aided Design (CAD) for the World Solar Challenge and continuing through to adapt Astrum for ASC regulations. His early work involved CAD modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and testing both in the team’s Mock Race and in a wind tunnel.

During the 2023/2024 design cycle, Darragh focused on aero body design in the aerodynamics division. As Aerodynamics Lead this past year, he directed design changes for the ASC competition and managed recruiting and training for the team. 

Reflecting on his experiences within the department, Darragh highlighted how it helped him contribute to the team over the past few years by stating, “Aero 325, taught by Professor Fidkowski, was crucial. It covered the fundamentals of aerodynamics in depth, applying concepts at various scales and across different scenarios. The entire class was essential for understanding airflow characteristics and conducting CFD analysis.”

He continued, “Having the support of professors was invaluable. They provided guidance and feedback on technical issues and skills, which greatly enhanced my ability to contribute to the team’s aerodynamic work.”

This year, the Solar Car team featured one other aero-focused student, Bobak Eizadkhah who will be stepping into the role of Aerodynamics Lead for the upcoming year, along with six undeclared freshmen in the aerodynamics division, all contributing to the team’s victory. With over 90 students from over 15 majors at the University of Michigan, Darragh encourages students to join the team and learn how their skills and experiences can contribute to their future. “Just come out and check out the team! There are no applications or prerequisites. If you show up and get involved, we can teach you everything you need to know. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in design, testing, and manufacturing.”

The Solar Car team will be competing in Australia at the next World Solar Challenge and will design a new car to race this coming year in the competition. As the team prepares for the coming Fall semester, they plan to recruit and train new members for the coming year’s competitions as they begin a new design cycle with hopes of maintaining their status as national champions.

Darragh concludes by stating, “Winning our tenth national title is a testament to Michigan’s resilience and determination. I am immensely proud of my teammates and friends. Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!”
To learn how you can get involved in the University of Michigan’s Solar Car team, visit their website here.