As a third year program, we are always learning new ways to improve our race car. Last year’s #43 car featured a lighter frame, upgraded ECU, advancements in the suspension, no-lift upshift design, and many other changes from the previous #50 car. With the success of our #43 Formula car, the upcoming 2012-2013 #32 car will share a similar design with refinements to create a solid, consistant and fast race car.
With the help of an OIT Software Engineering group, we will introduce data acquisition to our car. This will help the development of this car because we will be able to monitor in real time certain components such as: suspension travel, tire temperatures, steering angle, engine RPM’s, oil and water temperatures, brake temperatures, and other monitoring points. The Software team is currently developing a user interface that will be finished by the end of term 1. We are now making progress with the interfacing of the sensors needed and this setup should be ready to go for competition in 2013.
We will be introducing for the first time an aerodynamics package. Adding an aerodynamics package to the car will generate more down force and will allow the car to handle better, brake better and will be beneficial in other areas as well.
Last year we shaved a significant amount of weight from the previous car, and our goal this year is to do the same. The 2011-2012 car weighed in at 520 lbs., and this year we are aiming for a number around 475 lbs. This weight loss should help with the handling, braking and overall balance of the car.
Other improvements of the car consist of: reworked ergonomics to make it more comfortable to drive, a new brake setup, chassis redesign, a more efficient oiling and cooling setup, and we are even developing a throttle downshift rev-matching system. Throttle downshift rev-matching will automatically determine and match the perfect engine RPM every time there is a downshift so the car can properly shift each time and allow our drivers to concentrate more on racing the car rather than worrying about shifting the car correctly.
Throughout the development and testing of this year’s race car we will keep you updated on this website, so stop back by to see pictures, videos and articles as we get ready to compete in 2013!
