RobiNZ CAD Blog

Virgin Racing, the ultimate digital design test?

There’s lots of talk about virtual design/manufacture/prototyping but starting next month it gets an extreme test. Virgin Racing recently launched their first Formula 1 car, the VR-01, for the 2010 season. Its a computer designed/tested car without the usual wind tunnel model validation. In a sport where hundredths of seconds count it’s severe test for those CFD equations. Virgin Racing - www.virginracing.com The VR-01 is the first of a new breed of race car, designed exclusively using CFD – computational fluid dynamics. This radical all-digital design approach is driven by Virgin Racing technical super-brain, Nick Wirth. Read more →

A showcase of Kiwi motorsport design - The Bruce McLaren Trust “Technical Evening”

The cars on display at the Bruce McLaren Trust “Technical Evening” spanned decades, and generations, of Kiwi Motorsport design. This is a CAD blog and while it’s unlikely CAD/CAM was used for the 1968... Read more →

Inventor designs F1 in Schools!

This is cool, school students design a CO2 powered Formula One cars and race for a trip to the finals at the Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, Australia. I’ve been to this GP twice and it’s a fantastic event. The circuit is a short tram ride from Melbourne's CBD and the GP literally takes over the city for the week. A great challenge, but what a reward! F1 in Schools! - www.f1inschools.us The Formula 1 (F1) in Schools initiative creates a fun and motivating environment for students to experience the engineering process. The worldwide popularity of F1 racing lends excitement while... Read more →

Maximus: SuperMaxi racing yacht

I saw the new SuperMaxi racing yacht Maximus (silver hull) on the harbour for the first time on Sunday, while cycling. Unfortunately by the time I got a clear view from North Head for it was motoring. Team EBS founders Charles Brown and Bill Buckley asked designer Greg Elliot to come up with the “fastest boat for its size”. Size was about the only criteria and at 30.5 metres (approx 100ft) overall length its huge! Comparison with the super-yacht and smaller boats around it gives some idea of the scale. Built by Cookson Boat Builders Maximus pushes the limits of... Read more →