Preface
Solar cars usually come in two configurations: 4 wheeled (2 front/2 rear) or 3 wheeled (2 front/1 rear). As you would expect, the three wheel variant comes with concerns about maintaining stability. This document can be used as a resource for designing a three wheel car and optimizing (particularly the dynamics systems) for improved stability.
Introduction
A crucial vehicle property is the location of the vehicle center of gravity (CG). If it is located properly, the vehicle will be “stable” in terms of:
Resistance to “losing the rear end” in turns and crosswinds.
Ability to travel at high speed without continual steering corrections to counteract weaving.
Resistance to tipping over in turns and in encountering changes in road surfaces if sliding.
Resistance to swapping ends in hard braking due to weight transfer from the rear to front.
The location of the CG should be a design specification. Components should be arranged to achieve a specified location of the CG, instead of arranging components through an ad hoc process of fitting things where it is convenient or accessible or to solve some interference problem arising from previous ad hoc choices