Numbers of Archimede at iESC2016 Ep.1
It is really correct to compare the love for numbers with a passion for the sentiments?
Wrote Enzo Di Bella: “Dreams are the spice of life: run for 24 hours on a difficult track like Zolder, with Archimede designed and built with the same money that other teams have spent on the electric motor of their cars, is priceless and even more so to share this dream with people from co-workers have become brothers and sisters. “.
Dreams, feelings and sharing: iLumen European Solar Challenge 2016 racing edition, in Zolder, Belgium, has given space to all this; we made friends with all the teams in the race, we exchanged shirts, food and compliments. We were tense, then excited, finally happy. The reception was outstanding.
Essential role of our race strategy was based on the real-time collection of data transmitted by Archimede in the race, pit stops and during the two recharges that could be made by regulation. The numbers we obtained and analyzed surprised us (a little) and satisfied us.
The first numbers we notice are emotional: for the first time Archimede has traveled 422 kilometers, consuming 18327 Wph and produces its own 8598 Wph despite only 10 hours of 24 of sunlight total and doing two recharges at night.
Although Archimede could reach the speed of 72 kph, the average speed with which we have traveled the circuit was 28 kph, this might not seem at all exciting, but maintain a more or less constant speed in a race endurance gave us a chance to get to the end of the 24 together Olympus solar car.
The numbers that we publish in this news are proof that the work done until now is the solid foundation of the work of the year to come and the next targets to reach.
È davvero corretto contrapporre l’amore per i numeri con la passione per i sentimenti?
Ha scritto Enzo Di Bella: “I sogni sono il sale della vita: riuscire a girare per 24 ore in una pista difficile come Zolder, con Archimede progettata e realizzata con gli stessi soldi che gli altri team hanno speso per il motore elettrico delle loro vetture, non ha prezzo e ancor di più condividere questo sogno con persone che da compagni di lavoro si sono trasformati in fratelli e sorelle.“.
Sogni, sentimenti e condivisioni: gareggiare all’edizione 2016 dell’iLumen European Solar Challenge nel circuito di Zolder, in Belgio ha dato spazio a tutto questo; abbiamo fatto amicizia con tutte le squadre in gara, ci siamo scambiati magliette, cibo e complimenti. Eravamo tesi, poi entusiasti, infine felici. L’accoglienza è stata eccezionale.
Parte fondamentale della nostra strategia di gara si è basata sulla raccolta in tempo reale dei dati trasmessi da Archimede in corsa, al pit stop e durante le due ricariche che potevamo effettuare da regolamento. I numeri che abbiamo ricavato e analizzato ci hanno sorpreso (un po’) e soddisfatto.
I primi numeri che saltano agli occhi sono emozionali: per la prima volta Archimede ha percorso 422 chilometri, consumando 18327 W/h e autoproducendo 8598 W/h nonostante sole 10 ore di irradiazione solare totali su 24 di gara ed effettuando due ricariche in notturna.
Sebbene Archimede possa arrivare alla velocità di 72 km/h, la velocità media con la quale abbiamo percorso il circuito è stata di 28 km/h, questo potrebbe non sembrare per nulla emozionante, ma mantenere una velocità più o meno costante in una gara di endurance ci ha dato la possibilità di arrivare al termine delle 24 insieme all’Olimpo delle auto solari.
I numeri che pubblichiamo in questa news sono la prova che il lavoro fatto fino ad oggi rappresenta le solide fondamenta del lavoro dell’anno a venire e dei prossimi obbiettivi da raggiungere.
(All podium ceremony pics are on European Solar Challenge site)
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Andrea Aliffi, discovering Archimede 1.0 team
Andrea Aliffi, ingegnere, è uno dei componenti del team di Archimede 1.0 che guiderà la solar car durante la gara iLumen European Solar Challenge che affronteremo in Belgio dal 23 al 25 settembre. Conosciamolo meglio attraverso il video che potete trovare anche sul nostro canale Youtube.
Andrea Aliffi, engineer, is one of the members of the Archimede 1.0 team who will drive the solar car during the race iLumen European Solar Challenge we will take on in Belgium 23 to 25 September. Be familiar with he through the video that you can also find on our Youtube channel.
Q: We are with Andrea Aliffi, one of the Archimede 1.0 Solar Car team members. What is your role in the project?
A: I take care of the car’s energy balance, I analyze the powers and energies involved in order to establish at best our race strategy. Besides that, like everyone else, I always helped Enzo in the building Archimede 1.0.
Q: When and why did you start to participate in this project?
A: Approximately a year before starting my thesis, when I met Enzo Di Bella thanks to my father: our collaboration began in this way.
Q: A value of this project that you care and that you think is particularly important to convey.
A: Archimede 1.0 moves with zero impact, we are promoting a radical change of mobility from a no profit reality which is our Association, in the hope of spreading our idea of sustainable mobility as they do many other people in the world.
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Drive test di Archimede: cambiando si migliora
Abbiamo finalmente condotto i primi drive test pre-gara presso l’Autodromo di Pergusa, in provincia di Enna. Come vi abbiamo raccontato qualche giorno fa in un precedente post, siamo stati ospiti graditi all’interno della cornice del Laboratorio di Progettazione Partecipata nato per la riqualificazione di Pergusa.
I drive test di Archimede Solar Car 1.0 sono stati incentrati sulla dinamica del veicolo e sulla frenata; inoltre, abbiamo provato il limite fisico ed elettronico delle drive unit e abbiamo portato il motore al 110% del suo regime per testare entrambi com’era necessario fare.
Volevamo capire quale sarebbe stato il comportamento della vettura in pista dopo i miglioramenti apportati alle componenti freni, sospensioni e sterzo. Abbiamo potuto constatare che negli ingressi e nelle uscite di curva, nelle chicane e nelle frenate, la dinamica di Archimede è perfetta.
Riteniamo questi drive test un successo perché ci hanno permesso di verificare quanto sia stato buono il lavoro eseguito sulla meccanica di Archimede e gli ulteriori miglioramenti da fare prima di affrontare la gara dell’European Solar Challenge.
We have finally accomplished the first drive test pre-race at the Autodromo di Pergusa, in Enna area. As we told you a few days ago in a previous post, we were welcome guests of the “Participatory planning laboratory”: initiative conceived thanks to the activities about Pergusa redevelopment.
Archimede Solar Car 1.0 drive tests have focused on vehicle dynamics and braking system; furthermore, we tested the limits of physical and electronic drive unit and we brought the engine’s regime to 110% to test them both as it was necessary to do.
We would understand the behavior of the car on the track after the improvements made to the brake, suspension and steering components. We have seen that in the inputs and outputs of corners, chicanes and braking, Archimede dynamics is perfect.
We believe these drive tests are a success, because it allowed us to verify what has been good the work done on the Archimede mechanics and further improvements to be made before facing the European Solar Challenge race.
One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment. If it doesn’t turn out right, we can modify it as we go along. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Marco Scalet, discovering Archimede 1.0 team
Marco Scalet, strumentista industriale e civile polivalente, è uno dei componenti del team di Archimede 1.0 che guiderà la solar car durante la gara iLumen European Solar Challenge che affronteremo in Belgio dal 23 al 25 settembre. Conosciamolo meglio attraverso il video che potete trovare anche sul nostro canale Youtube.
Marco Scalet, electric and automation industrial expert, is one of the members of the Archimede 1.0 team who will drive the solar car during the race iLumen European Solar Challenge we will take on in Belgium 23 to 25 September. Be familiar with he through the video that you can also find on our Youtube channel.
Q: We are with Marco Scalet, one of the Archimede 1.0 Solar Car team members. What is your role in the project?
A: For this project I take care mainly solar car electronics: I develop radiometry and telemetry software. I take care, therefore, of all controls car; for example, temperature sensors, voltage sensors and electricity sensors.
Q: When and why did you start to participate in this project?
A: Maybe I am like a veteran in Futuro Solare. I met Enzo about six years ago and in association, from five years, since the electric bicycle project.
Q: A value of this project that you care and that you think is particularly important to convey.
A: Every day I try to make known our mission, in fact, I also have an electric motorcycle. I try to explain there is an alternative and Archimede is the proof. Above all, I think we can do something without having a high budget, many times the idea is worth more than money.
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Stefano Plumeri, discovering Archimede 1.0 team
Stefano Plumeri, ingegnere, è uno dei componenti del team di Archimede 1.0 che guiderà la solar car durante la gara iLumen European Solar Challenge che affronteremo in Belgio dal 23 al 25 settembre. Conosciamolo meglio attraverso il video che potete trovare anche sul nostro canale Youtube.
Stefano Plumeri, engineer, is one of the members of the Archimede 1.0 team who will drive the solar car during the race iLumen European Solar Challenge we will take on in Belgium 23 to 25 September. Be familiar with he through the video that you can also find on our Youtube channel.
Q: We are with Stefano Plumeri, one of the Archimede 1.0 Solar Car team members. What is your role in the project?
A: I took care of vehicle dynamics and specifically I realized part of the rear suspension and the whole assembly of the car together with my coworkers.
Q: When and why did you start to participate in this project?
A: I started about a year ago, after be acquainted with Archimede from the stories of some colleagues of the University of Catania who were planning their car and had come from Futuro Solare to learn from Archimede design. I was fascinated by this project and because I’m from Siracusa I decided to start working next to all the people that are now like a second family.
Q: A value of this project that you care and that you think is particularly important to convey.
A: I think that the oil age will not end because oil will be over, as well as the Stone Age did not end because the stones are over. I think we are at the beginning of a new era: sustainable mobility, economic and clean is the new target that each of us, in one’s own small way, should carry on. I think we can and must find an alternative solution.
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Daniela Coccimiglio, discovering Archimede 1.0 Team
Daniela Coccimiglio, architetto, è una dei componenti del team di Archimede 1.0 che guiderà la solar car durante la gara iLumen European Solar Challenge che affronteremo in Belgio dal 23 al 25 settembre. Conosciamola meglio attraverso il video che potete trovare anche sul nostro canale Youtube.
Daniela Coccimiglio, architect, is one of the members of the Archimede 1.0 team who will drive the solar car during the race iLumen European Solar Challenge we will take on in Belgium 23 to 25 September. Be familiar with she through the video that you can also find on our Youtube channel.
Q: We are with Daniela Coccimiglio, one of the Archimede 1.0 Solar Car team members. What is your role in the project?
A: What I do is take care of the materials, to give form to the idea of the car. One of the last challenges in which I happen upon was that the car’s windshield (like spherical cap) and the side openings.
Q: When and why did you start to participate in this project?
A: I have known the project by Enzo Di Bella, who is the promoter par excellence, during an activity in Ortigia (Siracusa) about environmental sustainability. Enzo told me about Archimede and, like all fools who believe in dreams, I decided to participate.
Q: A value of this project that you care and that you think is particularly important to convey.
A: I believe that the added value of Archimede, in addition to being low cost, is we are almost all professionals and that we find ourselves in the dream for a better world. Maybe it’s not a technical value, but is a human value that is important to me.
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News
Le Mans start style: pillola di regolamento n°2
La 24 Ore di Le Mans è una gara di automobilismo di tipo endurance che si svolge annualmente al Circuit de la Sarthe, nei pressi di Le Mans, in Francia. Uno dei motivi per i quali Le Mans è famosa è la partenza delle auto allo start.
Nonostante nel corso degli anni siano cambiate alcune regole a favore della sicurezza dei piloti, lo start di Le Mans è rimasto nella storia come uno dei più emozionanti e buffi delle gare automobilistiche.
Le auto sono allineate a spina di pesce su un lato della pista, i piloti sull’altro. Quando la bandiera francese segnalava il via, i piloti attraversavano di corsa la pista, entravano nelle auto e partivano.
Anche il regolamento dell’iLumen European Solar Challenge prevede uno start simile, ovviamente la guida senza cintura di sicurezza sarà penalizzata e ogni squadra ha la possibilità di designare un membro del team per aiutare il conducente a entrare nella solar car durante l’avvio.

Le Mans start style: figura esplicativa dal Regolamento dell’iLumen European Solar Challenge 2016.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance type of motor racing competition happens annually at Circuit de la Sarthe, near Le Mans, France. One of the reasons why Le Mans is famous is the line up start.
Although over the years have changed some rules in favor of the drivers safety, the Le Mans start remained in history as one of the most exciting and funny car racing.
The cars are aligned in a herringbone pattern on a side of the track, the drivers on the other. When the French flag signaled the start, the racing drivers crossed the runway, entered in the car and leaved.
The iLumen European Solar Challenge Regulation provides a similar start, obviously the driving without a seat belt will be penalized and each team has the opportunity to choose a member of the team to help the driver to enter the solar car during startup.
Aleksandra Semitaio
- Pubblicato il News