<
https://thedriven.io/2024/11/27/budding-engineers-get-to-build-and-drive-their-own-race-car-and-electric-is-their-choice/>
"The first weekend of December each year sees the staging of the Australasian
region’s Formula SAE (FSAE-A) vehicle build and driving competition.
For those who haven’t read my previous article on FSAE – the FSAE competition
is a worldwide event open to university engineering student teams who design,
build and compete an open-wheel race car to a strict set of design rules called
‘Formula SAE’. (SAE standing for Society of Automotive Engineers).
Designed by the US chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers back in the
1980’s, it was intended as a way to expose budding engineers to the rigours of
applying their theoretical studies to real-world projects … and the hands-on
practicalities of translating a seemingly simple design into a working
prototype.
As such, employers regularly seek out graduating members of FSAE teams as they
have learnt first-hand the difficulties inherent in taking a design from the
drawing board to reality.
The competition is also about a lot more than simple racing: there are multiple
‘static’ events where the designs and the vehicles themselves are scrutinised
and evaluated, along with a series of mobile tests that include handling,
braking and acceleration testing prior to an autocross event, finally
culminating in the ‘endurance’ event that runs on the last day.
Like the automotive industry itself, FSAE has progressed a long way since it
began. This year sees internal combustion engine entries decline to an all-time
low of just four out of the thirty that will start this year. (Slightly down on
previous years: it seems even Universities are not immune to the economic
times).
Interestingly, at five entrants, the new category of autonomous vehicles now
outnumbers the combustion category!"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
