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UK Engineering Students’ ARION1 Targets Human Powered Speed Record in 2015

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ARION1_land_speed_record_bicycle_ULVTeam_current_fairing_concept

Students at Liverpool University are developing a design to attempt to break the world record for the fastest non-motor paced bicycle. Named the ARION1, the latest iteration of their record-attempting bicycle is a fully-enclosed shell with a somewhat bean-like shape that would be familiar to anyone who has followed these record attempts.

Limited by the need to locate a large enough set of wheels and large scale drivetrain to maximize efficiency and speed, as well as to enclose a cyclist with enough space to maximize power output, there is only so much that can be done to cut down the overall frontal area of even a recumbent bike. The students are then tasked with trying to tweak the construction, final shaping, and even the fairings surface treatment to minimize drag.

Read on for more of their progress and plans…

ARION1_land_speed_record_bicycle_ULVTeam_computational_fluid_dynamics_CFD

Forming the University of Liverpool Velocipede Team (ULVTeam), the 8 mechanical engineering students hope to bring the Human Powered Speed Record to the UK for the first time. Partnering with lightweight structural composite specialist Far Composites, just 100 miles away from the university, the students aim to develop one of the most technologically advanced recumbents ever created. Their goal is to best the current highest land speed record by an unpaced human-powered vehicle, last set by Dutchman Sebastiaan Bowier at 83.13mph (133.78km/h) in 2013, as administered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA).

Their current design solution, which continues to progress through refined computational fluid dynamics designs and biomechanics, is a carbon fiber, fully-faired recumbent bicycle designed to reach a top speed of 90mph (145km/h). Its most recent design forgoes any natural visibility, by giving the rider a view where they are headed via a monitor attached to a forward facing camera.

ARION1_land_speed_record_bicycle_ULVTeam_design_phase

The final functional prototype, which is still in the early stages of development, is planned to be ready in time to compete at the 2015 World Human Power Speed Challenge, held each September on what is called the “straightest, flattest, and smoothest road surface in the world” in the desert outside of Battle Mountain, Nevada. The ULVTeam is scheduled to visit the Nevada testing grounds later this year to optimize their final design for the precise environmental characteristics they will go up against.

You can keep up with the team’s ARION1 progress on Facebook, and we look forward to seeing how they progress.

ulvt.co.uk

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15 Comments
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captain derp
captain derp
9 years ago

more like “enema1”

winncity
winncity
9 years ago

“Bean-like shape” — yeah, that was my first thought as well. Nothing phallic here. We’re sticking with “Bean-like.”

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

They should allow these designs in the pro tour 🙂

ummm
ummm
9 years ago

It looks like the end of a pen1s.

ummm
ummm
9 years ago

Just saying.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

not sure to reference spinal tap or monty python. good luck nonetheless, gentlemen.

Dave
9 years ago

SUPPOSITORY1?

dorkdisk
dorkdisk
9 years ago

carbon fiber? pfffft…. steel is real

Tom
Tom
9 years ago

@brattercakes I really, really want to see this take a shot at the pavé on the Paris–Roubaix

BobWood
BobWood
9 years ago

I think they are really missing an opportunity here on a sponsorship deal with Clear Blue Easy Pregnancy Tests.

Andy
Andy
9 years ago

I can picture this bean crossing the finish line, slowing to a stop, falling over, and the rider tearing his way out like a newborn ungracefully emerging from his womb.

ginsu
ginsu
9 years ago

i wish them the best but i worry about the surface they have to compete on is not really ideal,i.e. is it a dry lake bed? because at 90mph it’s the little irregularities that make the difference.

George Gomez
George Gomez
9 years ago

Nice!

dean
9 years ago

where are the dimples?

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