Project showcase

Data and Electrical Work

Race Data Analysis

Within my Systems Engineering in Motorsports class, I have been able to get real experience with some of the tasks that a systems engineer would do. One of these tasks was becoming familar with Cosworth Pi Toolbox, and creating a workbook to display crucial data collected during a qualifying session.

Wiring Harness Construction

This class also gave me the opportunity to build a cable, similar to one that would be in a motorsport wiring harness. During this process, I learned a lot about how to construct harness components to withstand the abuse they might be exposed to in a racecar.

CAD Modeling

Across my classes and internship, I have been able to become familar and competent with Solidworks. Displayed to the right is one of many CAD projects that I have completed, a small steam engine that was modeled with components both hand designed and adapted from McMaster Carr.

CAD Modeling

Above are pictures of the input and output of a program I created in my Engineering 133 Transforming Ideas To Innovation class. This program provides a cheap alternative to rotary compression testers, a tool that can cost up to a thousand dollars, and works by taking a traditionally measured compression figure and a file containing the values of current going into the starter, as measured with a Picoscope and an amp clamp. This is a method that I created when diagnosing my own rotary engine, and I later confirmed the accuracy of the readings with a borrowed rotary compression tester.

Data Analysis and Accompanying Program

Through lots of hands-on experience, I have become comfortable and proficient with dealing with data analysis in Python, analyzing some as large as 70 million values.

Created data analysis program to rapidly gain insight from messy data
Added intuitive user interface to allow for ease of use
Data analysis program led to a 97% efficiency boost in data processing tasks, using C-backended operations in Python to increase speed of calculations
Vastly increased accuracy and reliability of data processing tasks

Club Creation and Leadership Positions

Purdue Automotive Resoration and Repair Club - Cofounder and Vice President

As I looked through the offerings for automotive based clubs at Purdue Indianapolis, I saw a common feature. All of them required a lot of experience, and were not beginner friendly. Together with my roommate, I founded a club to teach people how to work on cars, providing a safe space to expand their skillset with hands-on experience. We bought a 1987 Ford Escort EXP, and are slowly restoring it to its former beauty.

Host weekly meetings of 10+ members
Oversee day to day operations
Secure funding to finance expenses

East Mecklenburg High School Automotive Club - President and Founder

In high school, I found myself and some of my friends wanting a place to gather, as well as appreciate and work on cars. I founded the East Mecklenburg High School Automotive Club, where I worked on cars with people, teaching some people the essentials, and had many lengthy discussions about our shared passion.

Hosted multiple successful car meets for fundraising
Placed 4th in the Charlotte Area Dealers Association Auto Tech Competition
Hosted weekly meetings of 5-10 members

Automotive Diagnosis and Repair

Rotary Engine Rebuild

Using the data from my aformentioned program, I determined that the engine on my car needed to be rebuilt. This process taught me a lot about using my resources, and finding out information about less well known topics.

I was able to fully rebuild the motor in about 3 days, and it produced compression numbers within factory specification.

Getting in touch

joemackay@live.com

Feel free to send me an email!

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