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Who Are We?Founded in 2009, Chinook ÉTS aims to design and manufacture a vehicle capable of achieving the greatest possible efficiency with only the energy of a headwind as fuel. Passion literally runs through our veins, we are all very dedicated and touched by wind energy. Some of our members have even left us in the past to do an internship at LM Wind Power, a wind turbine manufacturer in Gaspésie. Each of us is extremely proud of the vehicle and the performance we have been able to achieve. The motivation to surpass ourselves, while aiming for a new world record, gives us the energy and the motivation to constantly improve the vehicle.
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The Prototype
Fully mechanically powered, the Chinook draws its energy from a headwind that drives the wind turbine. The torque thus generated is transferred by various gear boxes and transmission shafts to a 14-speed planetary transmission which increases the energy transferred to the wheels tenfold. Different mechanical systems such as the rotation of the wind turbine, the timing of the blades and the change of speed are controlled to obtain the best possible performance according to the data collected by the various sensors installed on the vehicle. All data received and generated is transferred via a CANBUS to the brain of the car, the Chinook black box. Finally, all this data is routed in real time to a fixed station which allows the performance of the vehicle to be seen and certain parameters to be modified in the event of an emergency.
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The Race
The Racing Aeolus race, organized by the Dutch foundation Wind Energy Events, is held every August in Den Helder on the shore of the North Sea. The 600 meter long track must be covered in a minimum of time with the only energy being a wind blowing opposite the vehicle. The goal is simple: to achieve the greatest possible efficiency in terms of the ratio of average vehicle speed to average wind speed. To be able to participate, the teams must have a vehicle that meets very specific specifications. In addition to the main test, the acceleration test commonly called "drag race" rewards the team with a vehicle capable of starting without any thrust and covering a distance of 100 meters as quickly as possible. Finally, the Gérard Broers prize is awarded to the vehicle judged to be the most innovative.
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