Guwahati, March 19: "Let's Race" is the buzzword on the IIT Guwahati campus these days as a group of mechanical engineering students has developed a racing car which is drawing the attention of many.
Tachyon, the black racing vehicle built by a team of 27 students, also came in second in a category of the Formula Bharat, 2017, an engineering design event held in Coimbatore recently.
"It took a lot of research into technology and design and extensive product testing. Work on the car began in October 2015 and the design phase was completed by January 2016. The manufacturing was carried out from February 2016 to December 2016. The vehicle has a top speed of 110-120km/hour with the primary focus on acceleration where it goes from 0 to 60km/hour in 5-6 seconds," Nihar Bharadwaj, one of the mechanical engineering students who is part of the team, told The Telegraph.
The vehicle is operated on a 600cc petrol internal combustion engine. Tachyon is a rear-wheel drive because that enhances the feel of power and control for the driver, Bharadwaj said.
He said the racing car was developed in pursuit of their excellence in design and fabrication of a racing car and to bring about a feel of Formula racing to a larger audience.
"The second prize was for the real case scenario where we had to present a feasible structure for mass production of the vehicle. Vellore Institute of Technology came first in the category. Tachyon finished 10th in the business event and 21st overall out of 72 teams. The car was built towards developing suspension, transmission and braking systems which can be implemented in racing vehicles. We plan to make it a speedier, more agile and ergonomic vehicle as part of our innovation and product upgrade," he said.
"It is already attracting attention of other students within the campus as well as the visitors," he said.
"It's a black beauty out here," said another student, who is pursuing a masters degree in developmental studies.
Bharadwaj said the department was also planning to develop a hybrid three-wheeler which will run on a combination of battery and human power.
