At A Glance:
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The Challenge
A solar racing team needed to stay in touch while competing in a region of South Africa without reliable terrestrial coverage.
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The Solution
Network Innovations – a team sponsor – supplied Iridium Connected® Thales MissionLINK 700 terminals, providing the racers and support crew with truly global connectivity.
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The Impact
The solar racing team continues to rely on Iridium Connected devices as they compete on the world stage.
- 4,000+Kilometers Traversed
- 8 Day Event
The Challenge
Comprised of Belgian engineering students, the Innoptus Solar Team (formerly the Agoria Solar Team) highlights the power of green energy by constructing—and ultimately racing—solar cars.
In September 2022, they competed in the Sasol Solar Challenge, in which solar cars traversed a route from Johannesburg to Cape Town, South Africa. The goal was not to reach the finish as quickly as possible; rather, the team that completed the most kilometers in an eight-day period was crowned champions. During each race day or “stage,” the team had to travel from one city to the next by 5 p.m., but could add detours along the route to add to their total achieved distance.
Given the challenge’s distance, terrain, and unpredictable weather, a reliable communication was integral to the team’s success—and safety.
The Solution
Network Innovations supplied the race team’s lead crew cars with two Thales MissionLINK 700 terminals—a comprehensive, transportable communication and connectivity solution. Powered by Iridium Certus, the terminals allowed the crews to stay apprised of unanticipated weather or road conditions and craft a strategy for the day.
On the challenge’s fifth day, the solar car—dubbed “Bluepoint Atlas”—needed to stop to gain an ideal angle toward sunlight. Because of their ability to communicate and thus navigate effectively, the car’s pilot avoided unnecessary turns and ensured no time was lost.
The Impact
Thanks to their Iridium Connected solution—and despite a battery failure and flat tire—the Innoptus Solar Team crossed the finish line in second place.
The team carried that strong momentum into 2023, culminating in a victory in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, during which they traversed 3,000 KM from Darwin to Adelaide, Australia.
