Who We Are

 

Hot Wheelz is a multidisciplinary, student-run solar racing team at RIT. By combining engineering, business, marketing, and teamwork, members gain valuable hands-on experience while tackling real-world challenges.

Annually, we compete in the track-based Formula Sun Grand Prix, and strive to qualify for the cross-country counterpart: The American Solar Challenge. Through design and building experience, we are preparing students for leadership roles in all industries.

 
 

Meet The Subsystems

 

  • The business & marketing group is responsible for promoting the team on social media, apparel, organizing university events, and overseeing other outreach initiatives. The group also works with the team manager to help coordinate sponsors.

  • Chassis is responsible for the structural foundation and body of the vehicle. They design and weld the steel frame in-house. They utilize carbon fiber and fiberglass to create composite aerodynamic shells. 


  • Controls manages all low-voltage systems. This includes interfacing the accelerator pedal with the motor controller, as well as implementing systems for lights, horns, cruise control, and telemetry.

  • Driver Interface is responsible for the steering system, cockpit mounting, seat/headrest, and driver safety. They work closely with Chassis, Propulsion, Controls, and Unsprung to integrate components into the cockpit.

  • Propulsion is responsible for the design, assembly, and integration of the vehicle’s high voltage systems. This includes the batteries, motor, motor controller, solar panels, and all the PCBs/wiring that encounter high voltage.

  • Unsprung is responsible for the vehicle’s braking and suspension systems. They design, validate, and manufacture uprights, a-arms, hubs, and calipers in-house.

  • Vehicle Dynamics is responsible for the simulation engineering of the car. This includes creating lap time simulations, crash simulations, and conducting Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of the entire vehicle.