The semiconductor technology firm known as Power Integrations has developed a specialized reference design kit — designated RDK-85SLR — to support engineering teams constructing solar-powered race vehicles.
The RDK-85SLR kit provides the necessary components and documentation to build a compact 46-watt auxiliary power supply, which can briefly deliver up to 80 watts. The company utilizes its proprietary gallium-nitride (PowiGaN) switch technology, which is integrated into an InnoSwitch3-AQ flyback power supply IC. Power Integrations notes a notable technical feature — the elimination of a heatsink due to high efficiency, which reduces the system's weight and size. This stands to offer a critical advantage in solar racing.
The design originated from a collaboration with a university team from ETH Zurich and has been proven in competition, reportedly achieving 95 percent efficiency across various load conditions.
Image Credit: Power Integrations
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Gallium-nitride Power Components
- Gallium-nitride technology, exemplified by Power Integrations' PowiGaN switch, is enabling lighter and more efficient power systems, revolutionizing solar-powered vehicle designs.
- Heat Sink Elimination
- Eliminating heat sinks through high-efficiency components results in lighter, more compact power supplies, offering significant advantages in competitive solar racing applications.
- University-industry Collaborative Design
- Collaborations like the one between Power Integrations and ETH Zurich highlight the potential for academic partnerships to drive cutting-edge technological solutions in niche engineering challenges.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Semiconductor Technology
- Advancements in semiconductor technologies, such as those made by Power Integrations, are providing the tools needed for innovative applications in renewable energy sectors.
- Renewable Energy Vehicles
- The development and adaptation of solar-powered race vehicles is fostering a new level of innovation in the renewable energy transportation industry.
- Automotive Engineering
- The integration of high-efficiency power solutions is reshaping the landscape of automotive engineering, particularly in the niche of solar racing vehicles.
