In this episode of Dan’s Cadre of Experts, host Dan Allford sits down with Shubam "Bam" Bhakta and Muhammad Ali Mohsin, mechanical engineering students from the University of Houston at Sugar Land. Currently in the Research and Design (R&D) phase of their senior capstone project, the duo is working to bring high-level "active" aerodynamics to a grassroots racing icon: the Mazda Miata.

The Vision: A Dual-Axis Dynamic Wing

While most racing series ban movable aero to keep costs down, these engineers are using their capstone project to push the limits of what’s possible. They aren't just building a static spoiler; they are designing a dual-axis "dynamic" wing that can adjust its pitch and roll in real-time.

• Active Pitch: Acts as an air brake during heavy deceleration, providing massive drag to assist the car’s braking system.
• Active Roll: Tilts the wing to strategically load the inside rear tire during cornering, maximizing mechanical grip when the car needs it most.

The R&D Process: Theory Meets Technology

Bam and Muhammad walk us through the complex design phase of their project:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): How they are simulating airflow to ensure the wing stays in "clean air" above the car's hardtop wake.
• The Brains of the Build: The team is integrating a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller and Bosch IMUs to process G-forces and steering inputs at 400Hz.
• Material Challenges: Deciding between carbon fiber and aluminum components to balance weight with the intense forces (up to 600 lbs of drag) the wing will generate.

Bridging the Gap: From Technician to Engineer

The conversation also explores the personal side of the project. Bam, a former professional Porsche technician, discusses the transition from "wrenching" on cars to using calculus and physics to prove his automotive theories. For these students, the capstone isn't just a grade—it’s a proof of concept for the future of performance tuning.

What’s Next?

As they wrap up the design phase, the team prepares for a summer of fabrication and eventual track testing at MSR Houston. Dan Alfred (who has already stepped in as a project sponsor) digs into the data-driven goals of the project: proving that active aero can fundamentally change the lap-time potential of a momentum car.

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