Urban Concept

For the second category – Urban Concept – a vehicle is built that resembles a city car. For them, certain rules and design guidelines apply, which are also important for road traffic: For example, every vehicle must be equipped with side mirrors, a safety belt, roll bar, fire extinguisher, windscreen wiper, luggage compartment and horn.

Schluckspecht 5A (since 2018)

The Schluckspecht 5A was the first vehicle of the project in the new “Autonomous Driving” class of the Shell Eco-marathon. Based on the S5, the car is equipped with an XSENS MTi-G-710 sensor for odometry determination and a 3D LiDAR sensor from SICK for object recognition. The code was developed by the students themselves and is based on a point cloud based mapping and navigation process. The vehicle is thereby able to approach defined target points autonomously and to react to obstacles on the way there.

Schluckspecht V (2015-2017)

As with all previous Schluckspecht models, the Schluckspecht V was also built with a very high proportion of self-development. Almost all parts were designed and manufactured by students at the university.

Compared to its predecessor, the Schluckspecht V was even more energy efficient thanks to optimized aerodynamics, where the c_w value drops by 20%. The completely redeveloped body made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) leads to a further weight reduction with higher torsional rigidity.

The ergonomics and interior design have been further improved. So is a very large and modern cockpit display and an aesthetically pleasing steering wheel part of the new generation of vehicles. For easier service, the body was equipped with wide-opening engine and boot flaps. The look of the vehicle is underlined by modern front and rear lights and a two-tone paint.

Schluckspecht 4D (2013-2014)

The Schluckspecht 4D was the first vehicle in the Urban Concept category to be powered by an internal combustion engine. The 4.2 hp diesel engine developed and built by the students themselves replaces the previous wheel hub motors with electric drive. With elaborate simulations the engine friction could be further reduced and thus the potential of the diesel technology could be fully utilized.

Schluckspecht City (2012)

In 2012, the team tried on a new type of drive – the Stirling engine. This engine used heat instead of conventional fuel to generate electricity and replaced the previous battery drive. The advantage of this type of drive is, among other things, that the Stirling engine generates high torques, especially at low speeds.

Schluckspecht 4E (2010-2011)

The Schluckspecht 4E was an evolution of the city model with a battery-powered electric motor. The energy-supplying batteries increased the weight of the vehicle to 320 kg. To optimally distribute this increased load, a new stable vehicle chassis was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer company EMI. With the reinforced wheel hub motors, the 4E started, among other things, at the South African Solar Challenge.

Schluckspecht City (2009)

In 2009, the student team constructed the vehicle „Schluckspecht City“ in about 8 weeks, with which they ventured into the Urban Concept Group. The vehicle should be roadworthy due to an upright seat, trunk and four wheels. As a result of this change and the new demands placed on the vehicle, this generation of Schluckspechts has nothing in common with his predecessors.

The developments and constructions started in the fall of 2008. The successful drive concept was taken from the Schluckspecht III: The drive is a self-developed and independently built wheel hub motor. Two hydrogen fuel cells serve as energy suppliers. For the Schluckspecht City the wheel hub motor was optimized and adapted to the higher vehicle weight.