Team

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics designs, manufacturers, and tests the aerodynamic package of the car. The package includes a front wing, an undertray (floor), side wings, sidepods, and a rear wing. 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. Once the rest of the car is ready to roll, the Aero team uses tassels and flow-vis to compare simulation results to reality. On test days, the Aero team works with Suspension and Drivers to confirm Aero balance. The downforce generated by the aerodynamics package is crucial to high-speed cornering and overall performance.

Chassis

Chassis designs and manufactures the carbon fiber composite monocoque, the foundation of our vehicle. As the main structural component, Chassis team works with all technical teams in order to integrate each system . Additionally, members on Chassis design safety devices such as crash structures such as the roll hoops, and driver interfaces such as the seat. Over the course of the Summer, Chassis goes through extensive design iterations, combining structural analysis, driver ergonomics, vehicle packaging, and functionality, to allow for manufacture through the following year. Care must be taken to comply with competition rules, whilst achieving stiffness specifications, target weight, and manufacturability.

Composites

The Composites team is primarily composed of new members to expose them to various methods for constructing and analyzing carbon fiber parts. In order to ensure that each component can withstand the forces that are outlined by other subteams and the SAE rules, extensive testing is required. This team works closely with the Aerodynamics and Chassis subteams to consult on technical projects for ply layup design and for manufacturing best practices. Composites focuses on researching innovative composite applications and proving structural equivalency in the Fall and shifts to fabrication of critical components for the rest of the school year. This is important because the research and testing of parts produced by this team is essential for the validation of the structural components during competition.

Drivetrain

The Drivetrain team is responsible for the design, manufacturing and testing of every component between the electric motor and the wheel. 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. As our car follows an in-hub design, a drivetrain assembly is located at each corner of the car. Through the Fall, each member is given a project to refine and improve upon. Drivetrain parts are typically manufactured by sponsors so members will spend the Winter communicating with sponsors to stay on schedule, with the various manufacturing methods ranging from CNC machining to EDM to powder bed printing. At drives, members collect temperature data and monitor wear on various components. Producing a 4WD package that is efficient, reliable, and can operate at peak performance is the main goal of Drivetrain.

Electric powertrain

The Electric Powertrain or eTrain team designs, manufacture, and integration of the battery pack, HV and LV wiring, and inverters. ETrain incorporates data from drives as well as specified performance requirements into the designs of the different subteam projects. This is largely focused on the pack configuratio. In the Winter, eTrain works to manufacture the components through various methods such as carbon fiber layup for the accumulator enclosure, 3D printing, , etc. ETrain also works heavily with electronics to wire the car together. Following the completion of the chassis, electrical integration begins where the accumulator, electronics, and sensors are implemented into the car. For the rest of the year, eTrain works to ensure electrical reliability and durability through debugging and testing of components. Similar to the EV industry, everything is focused onto one place for safety and serviceability.

Manufacturing

The Manufacturing team aids the other tech teams with metalworking and machining of parts while giving newer and less experienced members a solid foundation in manufacturing processes. Understanding how components are manufactured is imperative for designing parts that are both effective and practical. Throughout the year, Manufacturing team members are often tasked with helping other members produce parts or with projects that are necessary for the team to function. These include things such as testing rigs, quickjacks, and many more. The experience gained while on the Manufacturing team is something that can’t be learned in a classroom and gives our newer members the confidence to take on difficult design projects in the future.

Suspension

The Suspension team is responsible for increasing mechanical grip between the tires and the track in order to provide steering stability and comfort for the driver. The Suspension team works through the Fall, analyzing drive data to make informed design decisions on various projects such as the control arms, bellcranks, anti-roll bars, steering, and brakes. Through Winter quarter, various components are manufactured in-house as the team works towards the rolling chassis. Rolling chassis is the mounting assembly of all suspension components onto the completed monocoque, thus marking the first major milestone of the team each year. Following the integration of all electrical systems, aerodynamics, and driver, the Suspension team takes measurements to confirm ride height and quality. The data collected during drives is then analyzed, along with the driver feedback, to tune and refine the suspension components and produce a balanced and stable race car.

Electronics

Electronics designs the various printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrating 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 ETrain in Spring quarter, 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.

Firmware

Integrating the car's myriad mechanical and electrical systems, the Firmware Team develops software and configuration for the car's systems, including CAN bus communication, battery management, motor control, dashboard, GPS, and much more. The team implements the car's functionality on multiple microcontroller platforms like STM32 and RP2040 using an arsenal of programming tools, C/C++, Python, and proprietary ones included. The team also tackles a wide variety of development challenges outside the car, including telemetry network management and database design, and creating our in-house Linux operating system distribution.

Driverless

The future is now! We have cars that drive themselves! You may be asking yourself why a racing team consisting of race cars and race car drivers would care about autonomous driving. Good question. Turns out that we aren’t just conducting research and development in the field, but in the coming years autonomous driving will be a requirement in our competitions. Autonomous vehicles have four core components: perception, localization, path planning, and control. Perception uses a system of cameras, light detection and radar (LIDAR) systems, GPS and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors to build a virtual environment. Once we’ve built an understanding of the world around us, we use localization to place the vehicle very precisely within that world. Now that we are able to perceive the world around us and know our place in it, we use path planning to find the most efficient route along the track. The final step is control where we construct a system of steering, throttling, and braking in order to execute the trajectory built during path planning. The future of automobiles is here; it’s up to you to make it a reality.

Business

Part of the FSAE competition involves a fictional scenario that questions teams about the corporate logistics of their team. The business team answers this scenario in a prepared presentation. The business team involves design, business strategy, marketing, and applications of industry knowledge. Business is not active in the Fall or Winter, as work only begins in Spring quarter. Historically, our team consistently places in the Top 5 at competition.

DTM

DTM is the race team, running and organizing operations whenever the car drives. Responsibilities include making test plans, designing course layouts, packing the trailer, reviewing telemetry, and setting up the car. DTM usually includes key personnel from tech teams such as Etrain, Electronics, Firmware, Suspension, and Aero. DTM also includes the drivers. All members of the team help run drives, but DTM specifically plans and prepares.

Public relations

Public Relations, in conjunctions with Sponsorship, is the busiest and most active admin team. Public Relations handles all the outward facing media that the team produces. This including social media, website, newsletter, and events. Members on Public Relations vary from photographers, editors, writers, event planners, and graphic designers. The car's livery is also designed by PR members with input from the broader team. PR works actively throughout the year to put on social media post and prepare for our major events such as Silent Auction and Unveiling. PR also manages internal events for the team.

Resource management

Resource Management oversees the team resources, facility use, and safety procedures to ensure maximum workflow efficiency. This team’s goal is to maintain and improve the organizational system for tools and equipment make sure that the workspaces are functional and tidy.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship sources the team’s manufacturing needs by procuring donations of money, materials, or services in exchange for PR obligations. Members are responsible for contacting and maintaining relations with both local, national, and international companies who provide integral components in the construction of the car. Parts like our 3D metal printed uprights, battery cells, and foam machinging are sponsored. Through research, emails and many phone calls, members can expect to receive valuable experience with industry professionals and potential sponsors.

technology systems

Technology Systems team manages the Product Data Management (PDM) system and computer lab. Members oversee the maintenance of these critical systems and provide tech support to their colleagues to debug issues across the various softwares used for design.