MILFORD – It

looked like a giant oblong egg rolling rapidly down the test track at the General

Motor Milford Proving Grounds on Aug. 24. But it actually was a recumbent

speedbike, from team AeroVelo, performing aerodynamic tests in partnership with

GMC in preparation for the Human-Powered Speed Challenge next month.

The

speedbike, called Eta, has a top design speed of 87 miles per hour, at least in

the simulator. The current record is 83 miles per hour. What the team of

engineers from the University of Toronto has been trying to determine at the GM

proving grounds, is the same thing that GM does there – putting its simulations

to the test.

The 2015 Championships

will be held September 14 -19 at Battle Mountain, Nevada. To see

what Eta look like, click on http://www.aerovelo.com

The big

difference is instead of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that

generate hundreds of horsepower, like GM, Eta a recumbent bicycle that places

the rider in a laid-back reclining position enclosed inside a composite

material shell is powered by Aerospace Engineer Todd Reichert, who is currently

ranked world’s 7th fastest human at Human Powered Speed Challenge.

Reichert reclines inside Eta, and once the composite shell is placed over him, views the road ahead through a computer screen just inches from his face. Behind the screen he gripes vertical handles in each hand that allow him to make very minor turns, left or right, meaning Eta is designed to go straight. Turning is very limited.  

On Aug. 24,

team AeroVelo was running tests on whether the aerodynamics predicted by the

computer simulations actually proved to be accurate on the track. GMC

volunteered its proving ground because the track is long, smooth and

controlled.

During the

actual Human Powered Challenge, Eta will take up to five miles to reach its

maximum speed, and another two-thirds of a mile to stop, said University of

Toronto Aerospace Engineer Cameron Robertson, a structural design expert.

Robertson and Reichert lead the team, which also includes engineering student

interns from the Toronto school.

Why did GMC

decide to help team AeroVelo? Brian Goebel, Senior Communications Manager, GMC said

because the AeroVelo “reflects the GMC brand and values of a modern statement

of confidence, precision and capability. Goebel said GMC remains

committed to purposeful innovation and engineering excellence. Like the

Aerovelo team, the GMC team believes things worth doing, are worth doing well.”