Electric Powertrain (eTrain)

eTrain is a mechanical team that focuses on the packaging of major electrical components on the car. While Electronics focuses on the design of complex circuits for our car’s custom PCBs, eTrain manufactures high and low voltage batteries, as well as enclosures for the inverters and other portions of the electrical system. Members receive a project and are provided with top level goals and requirements, after which they will design, manufacture, and integrate into the rest of the car.

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Some characteristics we look for on eTrain:

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Knowledge of basic mechanical engineering concepts (relevant courses would be PHYS 121, AA 210, CEE 220)
• Creative and able to come up with multiple solutions to problems, as well as iterate upon previous designs
• Motivated individual, able to take initiative to learn new concepts and skills

Driverless

The Driverless subteam at UW Formula Motorsports is excited to announce that we are seeking multiple new members. These positions offer you a high-impact role on a critical project, where you can bring an autonomous racecar to life. Below are the projects that we are currently hiring for, be sure to state your preference on your application.

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Responsibilities:

• Perception
  • Extend the detection range of the model
  • Collect data on latency and performance, empirically continue to iterate
  • Experiment and optimize clustering or other cone detection algorithms
  • Test edge cases, ensuring that no cone is left undetected
• Path Planning
  • Reconstruct the track with a cone list of any order
  • Try to develop our own path algorithm based on vehicle dynamics
  • Continue to optimize and maintain existing code
• State Estimation
  • Evaluate current SLAM (drift, accuracy, latency, performance cost)
  • Compare the performance of various SLAM algorithms
  • Work on real-time velocity estimation (higher HZ = better controls)
• Controls
  • Get a basic control algorithm to work at low speeds (for the first lap and testing)
  • Develop MPC or similar high-performance algorithm for second-lap onwards
  • Perform frequent testing on the sim, and adjust with the rest of the software stack
  • Be present at drives, and learn about the operations, performance, and dynamics of the car, along with how setup affects its driving characteristics

Qualifications:

• A good understanding of Python, or primary language across the software stack
• Experience implementing relevant or adjacent algorithms for your desired project
• Strong communications skills, ability to collaborate with others, strong passion to learn, and good vibes

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Embedded Systems

The Embedded Systems side of Driverless focuses on integrating sophisticated embedded systems to achieve full autonomy in the vehicle. Key areas of responsibility include steering, braking, throttle control, and power distribution. Each of these systems requires precise coordination and robust hardware to ensure reliable and safe autonomous operation. Team members will work closely with other sub-teams to produce a reliable vehicle that consistently performs as expected. 

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Some sought after characteristics for Embedded Systems (Preferred but not required):

• Knowledge of basic electrical engineering principles (e.g. EE 215, PHYS 122) and/or the ability to read and interpret PCB schematics
• Ability to comprehend expensive datasheets given specific hardware
• Experience with programming microcontrollers and low-level coding languages
• Experience with embedded systems communication protocols (CAN, I2C, SPI, etc.)
• Experience with hardware lab equipment and tools (Multimeters, Oscilloscopes, etc.)
• Motivated, passionate, and driven to learn

Electronics 

Electronics designs and assembles the various printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrates the low voltage systems throughout the vehicle. Projects include sensor data acquisition, driver interface systems, power distribution, and wiring to integrate all the electronic subsystems. Working with electric powertrain and software continuously throughout the year, there is a large emphasis on producing a reliable vehicle that can consistently run as expected. This involves heavy debugging sessions, reviewing wiring, and other testing. Electronics team members are expected to attend debugging sessions and drives whenever possible. 

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Some characteristics we look for on electronics: 

• Knowledge of basic electrical engineering concepts (e.g. EE 215, PHYS 122)
• Experience with circuit design and analysis.
• Experience using design PCBs in KiCAD or Altium.
• Experience using lab equipment and tools: Multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc.
• Disciplined and patient 

Suspension 

Suspension designs, manufactures, and integrates components on the car that serve to extract the maximum performance possible out of the car’s tires. Projects on Suspension include control arms, bell cranks, anti-roll bars, steering, and brakes. Members will be responsible for seeing their assigned project through to completion and integration onto the car, as well as assisting with testing and tuning of the whole system.

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Some characteristics we look for on Suspension:

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Familiarity with basic Vehicle Dynamics
• Knowledge of basic mechanical engineering concepts (relevant courses would be PHYS 121, AA 210, CEE 220)
• Eager to learn new concepts and skills

Chassis

Chassis team is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the main structural body of the racecar. This team must communicate with all other substeams to ensure proper integration of their designs onto the car. Technical projects on this team are multidisciplinary in nature and include, but are not limited to: monocoque, ergonomics, roll hoop, driver pedals, firewall, and a battery cell containment box. Unlike other subteams, chassis members will all collaborate together on the monocoque manufacturing as well as their own technical projects.

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Some characteristics we look for on Chassis (Preferred but not necessarily required):

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Prior involvement in a team, especially where technical skills are applied
• Experience with welding or traditional machining
• Some familiarity with carbon fiber composites
• Willing to commit 20+ hours a week to a technical project and chassis manufacturing in Winter quarter

Drivetrain

The Drivetrain team is responsible for the design, manufacturing and testing of every component between the electric motor and the wheel. As our car follows an in-hub design, a drivetrain assembly is located at each corner of the car. The system contains an ultra high precision compound planetary gearset, laser sintered motor cooling jacket, and a topology optimized titanium suspension upright that doubles as gear housing. Through the Fall, each member is given a design project for a component(s) for the drivetrain system. Through the testing season, each member must collect relevant quantifiable data for their component. Members are expected to complete their assigned project, create test plans for collecting data, and assist with the testing and maintenance of the drivetrain system as a whole.

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Some characteristics we look for on Drivetrain:

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Familiarity with basic gear mechanics
• Knowledge of basic mechanical engineering concepts (relevant courses would be PHYS 121, AA 210, CEE 220)
• Motivated to dedicate 20+ hours a week and learn new concepts

Aerodynamics

The Aerodynamics team designs, manufactures, and tests the car's aerodynamic package. The package includes a front wing, an undertray (floor), sidewings, sidepods, and a rearwing. Using Solidworks and Ansys Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the team designs, tests, and iterates upon their models in the Fall. In the Winter, the team works with the Composites team to manufacture the package entirely out of carbon fiber. During the drive testing, the Aero team uses tassels, flow-vis, and sensors to compare simulation results to reality. The Aero team works with Suspension and Drivers to confirm the aero balance. The downforce generated by the aerodynamics package is crucial to high-speed cornering and overall performance.

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Some characteristics we look for in Aerodynamics:

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Familiarity with fundamental fluid dynamics and simulation software
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts (Statics and Mechanics of Materials)
• Prior experience with a technical team, can problem-solve, adapt, and be creative 
• Motivated to dedicate 20+ hours a week and learn new concepts

Software

The software team spearheads the design, development, and integration of all the programable systems on the car. The team works closely with the electronics team to understand the car's electrical systems and layout requirements for each one. This concludes with 11 complex systems, such as the high-voltage battery management system, the motors/inverters, telemetry for our data acquisition, and much more. These integrate by communicating over protocols such as CAN, SPI, and Wifi. Software members get a full-stack experience, from developing low-level STM32/RP2040 code in C/C++ and developing client and member-facing applications in JavaScript and Python. Members gain a holistic understanding of the car as collaboration is highly promoted within the subteam, and also gain valuable industry experience.

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Some characteristics we look for in Software:

• Experience with a programming language, i.e. C/C++, Python, Java.
• Experience with relevant projects such as robotics, other clubs, etc.
• Passion and motivation to learn.

Public Relations

Public Relations is the heart of the administrative workings of the team- it is a gathering of the team’s thinkers, creatives, and biggest lovers, where members learn by doing. The subteam hosts options to explore workings of the event planning, marketing, design, outreach, and media production involved in the upholding of an engineering organization’s internal and external image. Ventures range from managing the team’s socials and website, to organizing cross-RSO and off-campus collaboration, to designing the car’s livery, with flexibility to pursue self-curated routes. 

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Preferred Qualifications:

• Clear and consistent communicator
• Prior leadership or teamwork experience of any kind
• Experience in any of the aforementioned areas, including but not limited to: public communications, event planning, social media management, graphic design, or photography/videography

Sponsorships

What makes the team’s car drive? Money! The Sponsorships subteam is pivotal to the success of our race car and team every year, ensuring that we can acquire or purchase the necessary materials to build a successful race car! From procuring items for Silent Auction, to maintaining sponsor relations with our big ticket sponsors, to building relationships with your technical subteam sponsors, Sponsorships provides a strong foundation for you to build your own personal network and interact with the local Seattle community. 

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Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to work autonomously 
• Prior experience working with Sponsorships or cold-outreach
• Willingness to try! More often than not, you’ll be ghosted through cold-emailing; perseverance and creativity in strategies to get sponsors is crucial. 

Business

Business provides an opportunity for members to gain points for our team at competition, without anything to do with our race car. In other words, we can help the team win! Business kicks off officially in late January/early February with the release of the FSAE International Competition Business prompt. We hope to bring out the members who love strategy, can think outside the box, and aren’t shy in front of a crowd. 

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Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to work autonomously 
• 3 hour bi-weekly commitment during winter quarter
• 3 hour weekly commitment during spring quarter