A novel strategy model approach for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

This project considers the derivation of strategies for a solar car race through Australia, posed by TopDutch Solar Racing. The task is to optimize the arrival time of an electric car powered by solar energy by changing the velocity along the track taking into account the characteristics of the car, external influences such as wind and sun, as well as constraints like the maximal and minimal battery charge. To address this challenge, the problem is modeled and four different optimization strategies are devised, focusing on different time horizons and methods. We explain a data-based long-term strategy, an optimisation-based long-term strategy, a dynamic programming long-term strategy, and an optimization-based short-term strategy. While successful short-term strategies require more work, the long-term strategies give realistic results and are powerful tools to increase the winning chance for the team. We outline several possibilities to improve the models based on additional data, modeling and methods.