IAN BETTIS / PORTFOLIO
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The complete Avalanche Baja SAE carAVALANCHE / TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

BAJA SAE / CAR 03 / TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Avalanche Guiding the design. Keeping the team moving.

As Technical Director for Avalanche, I focused on engineering design decisions and keeping the team on schedule. My role connected the technical direction of the car with the coordination needed to move from design through manufacturing and assembly. We finished the car in record time and retained a record number of team members.

Technical leadership & the build process

Engineering direction

I helped guide design decisions across the vehicle, keeping the team focused on how individual systems would come together as a complete car.

Schedule & coordination

I worked to keep the team on time through design, manufacturing, and assembly. We completed Avalanche faster than any previous team car.

Team continuity

Alongside the technical work, keeping members involved was an important part of the year. The team retained a record number of members.

From CAD to competition

The collection below follows Avalanche from vehicle CAD and physical mockups through fabrication, assembly, testing, and competition.

01 / Vehicle design & CAD

Avalanche complete vehicle CAD model
Avalanche complete vehicle CAD model
Vehicle CAD model - front perspective
Vehicle CAD model - front perspective
Vehicle CAD model - front view
Vehicle CAD model - front view
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02 / Prototypes & system mockups

3D printed steering mockup installed in the frame
3D printed steering mockup installed in the frame
Steering mockup and surrounding component fit
Steering mockup and surrounding component fit
Steering mockup from another angle
Steering mockup from another angle
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Testing the 3D printed steering model
Dry clutch assembly mockup
Dry clutch assembly mockup
Dry clutch and drivetrain mockup
Dry clutch and drivetrain mockup
Dry clutch mockup in the vehicle
Dry clutch mockup in the vehicle

03 / Welding & frame manufacturing

Firewall fabrication jig
Firewall fabrication jig
Frame manufacturing in the welding jig
Frame manufacturing in the welding jig
Frame fabrication progressing in the jig
Frame fabrication progressing in the jig
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Avalanche frame fresh out of the welding jig
Avalanche frame fresh out of the welding jig

04 / Machining & manufactured components

Front hub during machining
Front hub during machining
Machined hubs and drivetrain components
Machined hubs and drivetrain components
Frame, suspension, and manufactured components laid out
Frame, suspension, and manufactured components laid out
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Manufactured components before final assembly
Manufactured components before final assembly

05 / Vehicle assembly

Front A-arm mockup on the frame
Front A-arm mockup on the frame
Front suspension corner assembly
Front suspension corner assembly
Rear suspension corner assembly
Rear suspension corner assembly
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First full-car assembly mockup
First full-car assembly mockup
Rear view of the full-car mockup
Rear view of the full-car mockup
Avalanche as a rolling car
Avalanche as a rolling car

06 / Testing, competition & team

Avalanche suspension in action
Avalanche in action - run 1
Avalanche in action - run 2
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Avalanche in action - run 3
Avalanche in action - run 4
Avalanche at competition in Oregon
Avalanche at competition in Oregon
The team and vehicles on test day
The team and vehicles on test day
Avalanche and the Iowa State Baja SAE team
Avalanche and the Iowa State Baja SAE team
Kaden and me with Avalanche
Kaden and me with Avalanche
Avalanche beside the lake
Avalanche beside the lake
With Avalanche after the build
With Avalanche after the build
Avalanche four-wheel drive (4WD)

UP NEXT

Skid loader parts →
← Zephyr

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