REPORT INTERNATIONAL
REPORT INTERNATIONAL TALENT SHOW Graz University of Technology students building the carbon fiber monocoque body of the Formula Student Tankia 2016. Pictures: Bern Formula Student/Formula Student Germany/TU Graz Racing Team ( © Psenner Images) Austria A CONTEST FOR CLEVER MINDS University students need practical experience to gain a firm foothold on the jobs ladder after graduation. And that’s just what the Formula Student competition aims to accomplish. The winner of the engineering competition is the team that gets the highest number of points in eight different disciplines. The contest calls for teamwork and a diverse mix of skills. Formula Student is a spinoff of Formula SAE, which was first held in the United States in 1981. The competition first reached Europe by way of the UK in 1999 under the name Formula Student. Since then, engineering competitions have sprung up around the world. Several hundred teams each design a single-seat Formula racer and compete in a range of different disciplines. 17 Formula Student competitions are currently held each year. The new FSE (Formula Student Electric) class was added in 2010. Each team decides which class to compete in. Among the post-dot-com generation, there is a clear trend toward electric vehicles. The 2016 season featured 40 teams with electric vehicles and 75 with combustion engines. Another new class will be added next season: the Formula Student Driverless for self-driving racing cars. TWO COMPETITION CLASSES Initially the students only worked with combustion engines in the FSC (Formula Student Combustion) class. FORMULA STUDENT COMBUSTION (FSC) The engineering and design rules for cars powered by combustion engines meet official Formula SAE specifi- 10
DYNAMIC DISCIPLINES STATIC DISCIPLINES ENDURANCE 325 points FUEL EFFICIENCY 100 points PROJECT PRESENTATION 75 points COSTS 100 points CONCEPT 150 points TRAINING IN TEAMWORK ACCELERATION 75 points AUTOCROSS 100 points LATERAL ACCELERATION 75 points TOTAL = 1,000 POINTS cations and are supplemented by an additional set of FSC rules. The most important restrictions on the drive train are: • 4-stroke Otto engine • Max. 610 cc displacement • 20 mm diameter air restrictor for gasoline engines • 19 mm diameter air restrictor for E85 fuel FORMULA STUDENT ELECTRIC (FSE) Formula Student Electric is a welcome expansion of the Formula Student program, showcasing the potential of electric-powered vehicles. Here too the Formula SAE rules apply, only with minor differences to accommodate the use of electric power. The most important restrictions are: • 100 % electric • No limits on number or type of electric motors • Max. momentary battery load 80 kW • Regenerative braking permitted • High-temperature batteries and fuel cells prohibited CLEVER MINDS AND LEAD FEET Since this is an academic engineering competition, the best overall design wins. Teams are awarded points in three static and five dynamic disciplines. The objective of the competition is for students to gain practical work experience during their studies and conduct research in innovative technologies. Different concepts from around the world are presented and tested in competition with other teams. A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION Along with the shared goal of achieving the highest possible score in the overall team assessment, the learning experience is especially valuable for the students. Participants learn not only from other members of their own team but also, surprisingly, from other teams. The atmosphere between the teams is generally open and collegial, and the secretiveness often seen in Formula 1 is generally absent. Each year sees a focus on different topics, often brought to the teams by their external partners, which include leading auto manufacturers and suppliers as well as engineering firms and IT companies. In the 2016 season, for example, interest focused on timely topics such as digitalization, electrification, emissions reduction and energy efficiency. Blazing new trails together and learning from one another – that is the Formula Student spirit. DIFFERENT FOCUSES As lubrication technology partner to three different teams (Switzerland, Austria and Germany), MOTOREX Magazine took the opportunity to briefly profile the teams and ask each one a question. MOTOREX MAGAZINE 109 I JANUARY 2017 11
