The Laboratory sub-team of Chem-E-Car is responsible for the development of the stopping mechanism of the car. This comprises a chemical reaction, in combination with sensors and other circuitry, to send various signals and stop the car at the desired distance announced on competition day.
For the National Competition in Phoenix, Arizona this November 2022, the Laboratory sub-team is in the process of analyzing previous data and determining next steps in order to establish a new chemical reaction for the vehicle.
While the laboratory team made successful use of a Sulfur Clock reaction in the vehicle for the Regional competition in April 2022, this reaction is not suitable for the National competition without significant modification. Research for a new, more suitable, reaction is primarily focused on those which make use of either color change or timed sensors to send an electrical signal to other components within the vehicle and stop the car. Our current focus is to establish and better understand how a new reaction can be implemented into the vehicle itself, perform multiple in-person tests and trials, and revise the paperwork needed for the upcoming competition.