Science of Solar Racing
Eye on the sky

You don’t win a challenging, solar race through the Australian Outback by just looking at what’s up ahead. You’ve got to set your sights higher. With a super wide-angle IBM sky camera atop University of Michigan’s lead car, student strategists can read sky conditions to predict the radiation that the race car can experience 10–15 minutes down the road. Meanwhile, cognitive technology can apply this information against historical and live weather data to give even longer-range solar forecasting insights. Yes, friends, on the World Solar Challenge raceway, or in the lab, science is a team sport.

9 years ago

Fantastical Nonfiction:
Flower Power

Humans have always looked to nature for inspiration and solutions. Case in point: “Project Sunflower,” a new IBM Research solar initiative, in which 36 elliptic mirrored “petals” rise up on a concrete “stem” and rotate to catch the sun at its optimal position throughout the day. These solar sunflowers concentrate the sun’s rays to over 2,000 times their normal strength and project them onto a single point. The innovation even harnesses vapor created from the heat trapping process, for desalination and absorption cooling. Seeding these across the electrical grid could make solar energy more affordable to everyone—because sustainable power consumption shouldn’t be a luxury!

9 years ago

Science of Solar Racing 
Cognitive On Board

When it comes to solar racing in the Outback, the University of Michigan team can’t possibly recall every small atmospheric occurrence from recent history: which is a shame because that kind of information makes for 30% more accurate forecasts. That’s why they’re joining forces with IBM scientists to outthink the other drivers all the way to that glorious finish line. The cognitive system will make recommendations—to slow down, speed up, or stay still–derived not only from the current and future forecasts but also from previous weather. Makes perfect sense, really. Don’t all important decisions require careful consideration of the past? 

9 years ago

“Cognitive technology via vast amounts of historical weather data is the ‘secret sauce’ to solar forecasting." 

INSIDE THE INVENTIVE MIND
Siyuan Lu
Physicist & Analytics Whiz
IBM Research

9 years ago

FAST FACTS ON SOLAR
2015 “Aurum” Solar Car

Designed by: University of Michigan
Solar forecasts by: IBM Research
Top speed: 108 mph
Race class:  Challenger
Cup holders:  0

Explore UM’s Aurum infographic →

9 years ago

3… 2… 1… And they’re off! The World Solar Challenge is officially underway!

And we’ll help keep you up to speed on the thrilling, zero-emission action from Australia throughout the race, with some fun pit stops along the way.

9 years ago

FAST FACTS ON SOLAR
The World Solar Challenge

Distance:
3,021km (1,877 miles)
Route:
Darwin to Adelaide, Australia
Contenders:  
46 teams from 24 nations
Established:
1987
Kangaroo crossings:
N/A

Tour the course →

9 years ago

G’day Sunshine!  We’re getting ready for our next tech adventure, this time with sunnies, hats, sunscreen and a whole lot of solar and cognitive power. It’s the World Solar Challenge and we’re taking you with us on a road trip through the Outback to outthink the solar car racing competition. For this grueling weeklong, 3,000km trek across Australia, The University of Michigan team is supplying the purpose-built solar car while IBM scientists are providing the sun chasing tech to help them win the race. So stay with us. It’ll be a scorcher.

9 years ago