Rubber band powered Rahn RC race car can hit 30mph

Pasadena, California-based Art Center College of Design’s Graduate Industrial Design program holds an annual GradID Formula-E race which is basically a mechanical problem solving exercise that asks students to build and race vehicles powered by a rubber band. Since the ‘E’ in the Formula-E stands for elastic, these radio-controlled cars need to be propelled entirely by rubber bands. Students are also asked to create short video stories and flyers about the race. This rubber band powered RC racer called Rahn the Chosen is one of the entries at the event.

Rahn RC Racer

Picture Gallery

Rahn

Rubber-band powered RC Racer

The RC racer is designed by GradID students Ruthy Kim and Refik Burak Atatur who used the racer to promote ‘The Journey of Rahn’. The graphic novel series is spun around the adventured of Rahn in Accad, the tribal realm in which the story takes place. The story line of the novel has been developed around three mythical tests which would grant tattoos of bone-crushing power to Rahn who has to fight ancient evil to protect his tribe.

The chosen warrior’s vehicle of choice is of course this maneuverable RC Racer which is propelled by a 16 ft long rubber band. To steer and brake, Rahn comes fitted with two micro-servos that are powered by a battery. The Rahn RC Racer can cover a range of 400 feet per winding of the band and hits a top speed of 30 miles per hour.