Formula SAE
From wsuwiki
Washington State University Formula SAE
Each year the Formula SAE (FSAE) team builds a open wheeled, open cockpit, formula style race car. The team is responsible for every aspect of the car, from design to construction to testing. The car is designed according to rules provided by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for an annual competition against universities from around the world.
There is more to the competition than just the cars’ speed. The car is judged on its performance in many different trials, including endurance, fuel economy, autocross, skid-pad, and acceleration. In addition to the cars’ performance the team is also judged on their engineering design, a cost analysis of the car, and a marketing presentation.
Anyone who is interested can join, regardless of major. We are always looking for people to help out with design, fabrication, fund raising, etc. No experience? No problem, we can teach you everything that you need to know. We meet on Thursdays at 5:30 in EE/ME 154. Feel free to stop by.
What is Formula SAE? (Stolen from the UW FSAE team)
Over the past 20 years, the Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE, has held an annual competition known as Formula SAE. It is an international design competition that challenges today's aspiring engineers. The goal is to design and build a formula-type racing car that is taken to Pontiac Michigan to compete with similar racecars from all over the world. Recent entrants include teams from Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, and Europe.
A Formula SAE car weighs 400 to 500 lbs with horsepower figures ranging from 60-80 hp. The 0-60 mph dash is in the low 4 second range. The lateral acceleration of a FSAE car can be as high as 1.4 g's with braking from 60 to 0 mph in about 115 ft. These performance numbers will leave most streetcars in the dust.
The students take the role of being part of a manufacturing firm that must produce 4 racecars a day. The car is to be designed for the weekend autocross racer. This car must have excellent handling, braking, and acceleration capabilities. However, sheer performance is not the only goal. The car must be affordable, easy to maintain, and reliable. Additionally, ergonomics and aesthetics must be addressed. Surely with enough money any car can satisfy these requirements. But the Formula SAE competition requires that the maximum cost of the prototype car cannot exceed $25,000.
At the competition, each team is judged in several events including a cost analysis, general presentation, engineering design, and various dynamic performance trials. A panel of judges from the automotive and motorsports industry comes from all over the world for this annual event. The majority of the points earned in the competition come from the dynamic events including a grueling 13 mile endurance event.