Under the direction of University of Arizona's sponsor Floyd Block and mentor Dr. Lesley Wright, a small group of engineering students embarked on the challenge to increase the longevity of vehicular batteries. This web page is designed to inform its reader about the issues and tasks that face team "keep cool", and the steps that they have taken to realize their project goal.
This project began in the summer of 2007 when University of Arizona's Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop director Floyd Block administered an act of charity to a stranger in the parking lot. Simply, her car battery had died and left her stranded in the parking lot. He helped the woman out and jump started her car.
It was after this that Floyd realized how many times he has done this for friends and strangers here in Southern Arizona where parking lot temperatures can reach up to 120-130 degrees Farhenhiet. He also began to reflect on the amount of times he has had to replace his own battery over the years while living in the desert heat. It was at this moment he had an idea to reduce the heat affect on the car battery so that battery life is extended. His write up to the University of Arizona's senior capstone design project follows. Battery Shield Proposal
His proposal was accepted and a group of students were teamed up together to solve the problem. One of the first things they did was try and determine the problem with testing data and analysis. The following is some of their testing work during the later half of 2007.
Live Road Test Result Summary Live Road Test Data
After viewing the findings from the Live Road Test, team "keep cool" decided to perfom more extensive tests on other conditions that a car battery might encounter. The findings from these testings and complilation of thoughts and proposed ideas to solve the problem of high external heat to the battery were finalized in a report given to the University of Arizona. This report also contains data and corresponding evidence of the performance of currently existing products testing as a benchmark for the teams proposed design solution. A detailed criteria of challenges and environmental aspects to adhere to are given in this report.
2007 Findings and Solution Proposal Report
Team "keep cool" is currently in the process of doing some final testing procedures and analysis to determine more clearly the detrimental affect that heat has on a car battery. They are also purchasing their materials to begin construction of their first prototype which is expected to begin testing in early spring of 2008. Please stay in tune to this website for additional updates on team "keep cool's" progress.
Left to Right: Matt Bovee, Floyd Block (sponsor), Lesley Wright (mentor), Russell Beal, Mark McClellan, Justin Giacotto; Rion Westfall (absent from photo)