Log Bog
The log bog for the course was designed to allow drivers to feel what it is drive on a watery surface. This feature will be filled with water with 1’ of freeboard which will have traction logs at the bottom of the log bog so the car won’t get stuck. However, to prevent the feature from overflowing and damaging the vehicles, there will be an outflow channel which leads into the detention basin using a riprap-lined channel
Off-Camber Turns
The off-camber section of the course was designed to allow for demonstration of the suspension travel as well as the limited-slip differential and Active Traction Control system of the vehicles. This section consists of small hills with 3 foot diameter and 2 foot heights. The hills are spaced laterally per the average width of both primary test vehicles (4Runner and Tacoma) at 6.25 feet. The longitudinal spacing (along the centerline), was designed with the wheelbase specifications of the vehicle with the shortest wheelbase. This length is approximately 9 feet and was determined to be the limiting factor and thus was chosen for the longitudinal spacing. The height of the hill was chosen based on the suspension travel of vehicles. While the vehicle drives over the hills, alternating front and rear wheel suspension will be compressed, allowing for the other wheels to lift from the ground surface. In doing this, the power going to the wheels will be diverted to the wheels still in contact with the ground effectively demonstrating the traction control features of the vehicles
Steep Hills
The hills for the course were designed using basic geometry in combination with the vehicle specifications, in particular the approach/departure angles as well as the ground clearance and wheelbase. The approach and departure angles were used to determine the maximum angle that the vehicles would be climb and descend from, respectively. However, to ensure that the vehicles would be able to ascend and descend from either side, the maximum angle used in the hills was the departure angle. To be safe, it was slightly reduced from 23.5 degrees to 23. This also ensured that the hill would not be too steep for the vehicle to climb. Additionally, it was determined that the breakover angle, of 19 degrees , would cause the vehicle to get stuck while moving from the incline onto the peak of the hill, and this is currently being worked on by the 4Runners.
Boulder Garden
The boulder garden was designed using dimensions from the track and the vehicles. The width of the track will also be the width of the boulder garden, which is 12 feet wide. The length of the boulder garden will be longer than the vehicles, which are approximately 18 feet; this is to ensure that the vehicle completely fits within the boulder garden and the driver has an opportunity to actually drive on the boulders. To do this, the team recommends a length of 30 feet for the boulder garden. The team also considered using a 40 foot length but decided against due to increased cost. Lastly, the approximate diameters of these boulders should range between 6 inches and 1.5 feet, based on the measurements of the boulder garden present at Mormon Lake. This allows for a bumpy ride that showcases the vehicle’s ability to drive through a rocky terrain without putting the driver at risk by using larger boulders. Furthermore, using boulders/rocks any smaller than that would make it feel like the driver is simply driving through gravel.