The InVentus Team of the University of Stuttgart really hit a home run with the victory of the Ventomobil at the Aeolus Race in Den Helder. A little while after the big show, we have spoken with Jan Lehmann of InVentus about the impressions of the team and their future plans.Club of Pioneers: Congratulations on your victory in the Aeolus race! How does it actually feel to drive the Ventomobil, after having toasted its success? Jan Lehmann: The Ventomobil has always been fantastic to drive, and with this success behind it driving is naturally even more enjoyable. We had a great team, with the support of a lot of volunteer helpers and sponsors. Golden Moment: The Ventomobil at the Aeolus RaceClub of Pioneers: How did the race transpire exactly?Jan Lehmann: On the two race days (Thursday and Friday), all the teams were actually supposed to compete against each other once. But it didn't turn out as smoothly as the race management had hoped. Even on the day before the race, you noticed that every team was still occupied with screwing things together. The development period was simply too short for all the teams. Accordingly, we were only able to hold three of the planned six races on the Thursday, and we had technical problems ourselves. In the FIRST race, our bicycle components failed in 35 km/h wind, just ONE meter after the finish line. We repaired the gear mechanism in a flash, and were able to race again shortly afterwards. We then immediately set the speed record. 1.2 km in 3 minutes 13 seconds. Our driving speed was around 64 % of the wind speed.
There was a lot less wind on the second day (15 km/h). Most of the cars didn't even race, which was a real shame! We had a lot of room for movement in terms of our transmission because of our bicycle components, and we were able to cover the 2km track well. Our closest competitor on this day was the Danish team (DTU). In the race to decide everything, they even got out to a lead of around 10 meters over us. Alex was driving, and Niko was riding next to him on the bike, giving directions. 100 meters before the finish, the track went slightly uphill. We were able to change down and get more power from the wind. The Danes didn't have that option, and we pulled past them in the last second. It was absolutely thrilling!Club of Pioneers: What was the secret of your success? When did you become aware that you were better than the others?Jan Lehmann: I think the fact that we won was a result of a number of factors. In technical terms, the variability of the transmission and our low weight, thanks to the carbon-fiber frame, were certainly decisive advantages. But another decisive factor was definitely also the great team that we had, with all the helpers who put so much time into the project. The cooperation ran very well from the beginning, and I think everyone had fun being involved.
On the first day we, the Dutch team and the Danes kept bettering each other in terms of maximum speed. It wasn't until late in the afternoon, when no-one else had achieved our record of 64 %, that we grew more confident. But then the technical problems emerged, proving that our enthusiasm was somewhat premature. Really, it wasn't clear who had won until the presentation ceremony, and accordingly it stayed exciting for us right to the end.Club of Pioneers: You were also victorious in other categories. For what did you receive awards?Jan Lehmann: The use of a lot of carbon-fiber fetched us the prize for most innovative construction, and our media relations, in which you also supported us so well, won us the prize for best media relations.Club of Pioneers: Time was of the essence in preparation. How did you still manage to develop a chassis?Jan Lehmann: Yes, that really was tight. It wasn't until the last weeks that we decided that we still had enough time for a fairing. First, we had the idea of building the fairing from Plexiglas. We were able to do that very quickly, but in the wind tunnel it turned out to be impractical. At the same time, Dr. Würz seized on Alex's idea of using the fuselage of a glider for the fairing. Following talks with the glider manufacturer Schempp-Hirth, we had the external shell of a one-seater glider within two days, and only had to adapt it to our vehicle. Club of Pioneers: After the race, you ran into an unexpected windfall – what happened there?Jan Lehmann: Prior to the race, Prof. Gustav Winkler, a very friendly and open-minded Emeritus professor at the Flensburg College of Higher Education, had declared a prize for the team that drove faster than half the wind speed. He was, and remains, convinced that it is very difficult to reach this target, and accordingly offered the incentive of 1000 euro. Despite the initial conviction of all teams that this prize would be very easy to win, in the end only three managed it, and even then only just. ECN (The Netherlands) with 51 %, DTU (Denmark) with 53 % and InVentus with 64 %. For next year, in turn, the Dutch team announced a prize of 1000 euro, being for the team that achieves more than 100 % of the wind speed!Club of Pioneers: What will happen to the Ventomobil now and what are your future plans?Jan Lehmann: The cup we won is a challenge cup, which means that it must be defended again next year. So in the next few weeks, Alex, Niko and I will be looking for research project and thesis topics which we can implement for the 2009 Aeolus race. There are already enough exciting topics regarding improvements and even completely new designs, so everyone can look forward to seeing what InVentus brings in 2009!
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone involved once again for the fantastic support for the project. You did a great job!!

Being Aeolus Champion is a hard job so we are sorry you had to wait so long for a video of the race. Anyway, we are happy to present this funny little movie that shows our first ride on the dyke at the lovely coast of Den Helder. It was shoot on a bicycle… you can hear the guy complaining because he cannot follow the Ventomobil;)The video gives you also an impression of the functionality of our wind racer: The carbon-fibre-built tower can be turned into the wind, and through pitching the blades can be adjusted optimally to the wind speed. Via two bicycle gearboxes and a bicycle chain the power then is transmitted to the axle.

It was tough, it was hard-fought but in the end WE DID IT! At the end of the racing days in Den Helder, our Ventomobil turned out to be the fastest wind racer at the Aeolus Race! In a competition of each against all, we reached 65% of the wind speed straight into the wind and came out on top. Our big advantage was the lightweight construction of the Ventomobil: Our baby weighs only 130 kg, the racer of the second placed team “Energy research Centre of the Netherlands” (ECN) weighs almost 400 kg. And there is even more to it than that! We have also won the prizes for the best PR work and the best design!! We are really enthusiastic about that, you’ll hear more about the race later… we gotta party a little now!Here are some pictures as an appetizer!
The Arrival in Den HelderOn your marks, get set...We are the ones ahead!!

The moment of truth has arrived! After eight months of hard work and a lot of testing with the Ventomobil, we compete at the Aeolus Race in Den Helder, Netherlands! The three-day race (August 21 to 23) with five international competitors will be a hard challenge - but we certainly try our best!!! The challenge, taking place alongside the festivities of the Tall Ships Races 2008, is conducted on the Den Helder seawall. The entrance requirements are strict: Sailing straight into the wind in a single-handed land yacht equipped with rotorblades or a (Darius)turbine.The first test drive with the Ventomobil at an airport near Stuttgart, Germany
All teams on the track will be eyed by an observation team during trial & testing, qualifying race and finals. The observation team consists of 1 or 2 arbitrators and a full inspection team. At 6 pm, each night, we will make camp.Well, even if we aren't the fastest team we'll have a good chance to win an prize, since there is a number of other awards like the one for the best design, safety, best sportsmanlike behaviour and even bad luck! Anyway, of course we want to come out on top and we will show that wind mobility is really working! See for yourself by watching our latest video: The first recording of the Ventomobil in action:We keep you updated about the Aeolus Race! Stay tuned!!

Our engineering geniuses from Team InVentus have got a tail wind: Right now, every screw in the “Ventomobil” is being thoroughly tested, in order to prepare the wind racer for the big Aeolus Race in Den Helder (August 20 to 23). While the heart and kidney checks are running, a chassis design is also still being sought! And because the Ventomobil is destined to generate a whirlwind of excitement, as it were, we brought a proven professional together with the team representing our hopes for the future: Check out InVentus talking to BMW designer Stephan Augustin!
InVentus: How much work is involved in constructing a chassis? How many labor hours should we calculate?Stephan Augustin: You can’t really make a sweeping statement as to the amount of work required for the construction of a chassis. Generally, it involves a lot of time. However, the objective of the project is the clever construction of the engine. For that reason, I wouldn’t invest too much in it here.
BMW Designer Stephan Augustin
InVentus: What is the best method of construction for a chassis?Stephan Augustin: The best option is to use fabric, film or elastic membranes. These are pulled over a ribbed frame, similar to old aeroplanes.
Consequently, the vehicle is very light, and also looks attractive due to the minimal surfaces. Plexi should only be used in areas subject to substantial stress. InVentus: How significantly is air resistance reduced through the use of a simple fairing in our current model?

Stephan Augustin: That depends entirely on the front surface of the vehicle, but generally every fairing is an advantage, even at lower speeds. The use of membranes is also completely sufficient, particularly at low speeds. The Ventomobil - still naked without chassis
InVentus: Should you already have the design in the lead-up to construction, or simply get stuck straight into the vehicle?Stephan Augustin: Getting stuck straight into the vehicle might be a bit risky. I would prepare a small model with the basic geometry, and then design the external skin with wire and nylon stockings, just like Frei Otto did for the design of the Munich Olympic Stadium. Then replicate it exactly in construction.
And by the way: There's still a lot to do! You can help us to bring the Ventomobil on the streets. Test drive the Ventomobil and give us your feedback - or bring up your idea of a chassis design for the Ventomobil.

Your help would be appreciated!

Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present the Oscar for innovative ideas made in Germany: Within the scope of the Day of Science at the University of Stuttgart, we received the Land of Ideas Award for pioneering projects!We want to thank you for your support with some pictures of our big day! Watch also our video of the public presentation of the Ventomobil! Stay tuned, pioneers!

We called for your help, and you delivered! Thanks a lot to Fabian a.k.a. Thälmannpioneer who answered our call and sent us some great designs for an InVentus T-Shirt!! Click the slideshow to see the hot drawings and read Fabians explanations!

Would be great to read about your impression - Tell us which design you like best by commenting this blog!!We also got a design from Kerstin and Julia some friends of us at the University of Stuttgart - a little more formal, but also cool... by the way, it's quite small but note the Club of Pioneers Logo at the sleeve;)
Front view

Rear view
The start has been made - but we still want YOUR ideas für a Ventomobil-Shirt!

To email us your design, visit the Ventomobil Project site on Club of Pioneers by clicking here!