HAN Embedded Engineering students Thijs and Thijs are working very hard on the HAN Solarboat’s cockpit warning system! Thanks to their skills, the team gets a light and sound signal as soon as the engine controller turns on. That saves us a lot of time during races!

And the HAN Solarboat team uses some essential components from plastics specialist igus for its latest boat design. A corrosion-free rod head and lightweight, interference-free cabling ensure that information on wave action, engine temperature and power is processed quickly and reliably, while minimising component weight. That optimisation helps the team cross the finish line as quickly as possible.

The HAN Solarboat team was founded in 2013 and consists of students from various technical courses at the HAN University of Applied Sciences and professionals from product developer QConcepts. Under the guidance of the project management organisation IIME (Innovation In Mobility and Energy), they build a boat that runs on solar energy. The team improves the boat annually using modern techniques and materials and participates in international competitions, such as in Monaco (fourth place) and Hungary (fifth place) earlier this year.

During the design phase of the latest boat design, the team knocked on the door of igus, the specialist in high-performance plastics for moving applications. ‘They were specifically looking for lightweight, corrosion-resistant and reliable materials,’ explains Roy Snellens, product manager drytech & low-cost automation at igus. ‘The new boat design uses hydrofoils that lift the boat above the water surface to reduce water resistance and increase speed.’

A crucial part of this hydrofoil system is the probe, which oscillates under the boat with the waves and transmits information that adjusts the angle of the hydrofoils to the waves. This probe is attached to the boat with a movable rod head. ‘The challenge for Igus was to develop rod heads that could withstand salt water,’ explains Roy Snellens. ‘We therefore developed lubrication- and corrosion-free plastic igubal rod heads, which can be used in tough maritime conditions. Moreover, this type of rod head is up to 40% cheaper and 80% lighter than similar metal parts.’

Besides rod ends, Igus also supplies CAN bus cables, a type of electrical cable that lets electronic components communicate with each other. These cables are essential for measuring temperature, consumption and power generated by the engine. In the nearly six-metre-long boat, some 12 metres of cable are needed to connect all the components. Thanks to the weight saving of 300 grams per metre, these cables contribute to the boat’s optimal performance. In a boat that weighs just 180 kilograms including the pilot, this lighter weight makes a significant difference.

Leonie Dijkhof, team leader of HAN Solarboat, emphasises the importance of the collaboration: ‘Igus actively thinks along with us about improving our parts. When something breaks down in the crucial weeks before a race, igus goes out of its way to make rush deliveries possible. That is essential for our success. We are therefore delighted that they are sponsors of our team.’

According to Roy Snellens of Igus, the collaboration with students from the HAN Solarboat team is valuable for both parties: ‘Students are the future of the industry. Through this collaboration, we can not only make ourselves visible to engaged students, but also contribute to the development of innovative technologies that enable more sustainable mobility. And, of course, it is great to see our parts in action during a race,’ he concludes.

Source: HAN Solarboat