the competition
What is Formula Student?
Formula Student is an engineering design competition. Starting as a small event with eleven teams in 1979, it is now the world’s biggest product development competition for students. Formula Student has rapidly grown and there are now about 800 teams competing in over fourteen international competitions sanctioned by the organization FSAE all around the world. Our intention is to attend at least two international competitions every year.
The competition is divided into static and dynamic events, totally adding up to a total score of 850 points for the Europe competitions and 1000 points for the competition in The United Kingdom. The events are further explained in the following sections.
Where Concepts meet justification
static events
engineering design
The Engineering Design Event is where the technical process of the team is scrutinized. Judges assess the car’s overall design, including the innovation behind it and the engineering decisions that guided its production and testing. The focus is on the validation of the design choices, supported by calculations that demonstrate the car’s feasibility and the choices. Teams must show a deep understanding of manufacturing techniques and the integration of various systems, such as suspension, drivetrain, aerodynamics, electronics and project management. The team presents its design, explains the reasoning behind their decisions, and justifies the trade-offs they made to balance performance, cost, and manufacturability.
COST & MANUFACTURING
In the Cost and Manufacturing Event, teams must prove their grasp of the financial and practical side of car production. The event evaluates a detailed cost report that includes every component of the car, as well as the overall expenses involved in bringing it to life. Teams also discuss the manufacturing processes, highlighting the feasibility and efficiency of their approach. The judges look for cost-saving strategies and an understanding of how to design with manufacturability in mind. This event challenges teams to demonstrate their knowledge of real-world production constraints and practical considerations that affect the cost-effectiveness of their designs.
BUSINESS PLAN
The Business Plan Event is a chance for teams to pitch a start-up/project as if they were seeking investment. In this event, teams must craft a compelling business plan, outlining the market analysis, target audience, and potential for success in the marketplace. Financial projections, profit margins, and sales strategies are key elements of the pitch, as teams must show they understand not just the engineering but the business side of taking their car to market. The judges evaluate the team’s presentation, considering both the feasibility of the business plan and the team’s ability to present it effectively.
Pushing Limits on Track
dYNAMIC EVENTS
Skidpad
The Skidpad event is designed to test the vehicle’s lateral grip and handling ability by navigating a figure-eight course. The main goal is to complete the course in the shortest time while maintaining control and avoiding any penalties, such as hitting cones. This event evaluates how well the car can handle high lateral forces, which is crucial for performance on twisting tracks. The event pushes both the car’s stability and the driver’s control.
Acceleration
The Acceleration event focuses on how quickly the car can go from a standstill to its maximum speed. The distance is set at 75 meters, and the car’s time to complete the sprint is recorded. This event highlights the car’s acceleration capabilities, with electric vehicles often performing very well due to their instant torque. The event tests the vehicle’s ability to transfer power to the ground and achieve the fastest possible acceleration over a short distance.
Autocross
In the Autocross event, teams race a short, technical course with tight corners and straights, testing acceleration, braking, and handling. Each missed cone or deviation from the path results in time penalties. The objective is to complete the course as quickly as possible, with the car’s agility and precision under pressure being key to success. The event demands good decision-making from the driver, balancing speed with careful cornering.
Endurance
The Endurance event tests the durability and reliability of the vehicle over a longer period. Teams must complete a set number of laps (or a specific duration), typically ranging from 20 to 90 minutes, depending on the competition. This event evaluates how well the car performs under continuous use, assessing factors like tire wear, battery management, and the vehicle’s ability to maintain consistent performance without failure.
Efficiency
Efficiency is a critical aspect measured during the Endurance event, focusing on the vehicle’s electrical energy consumption. While the car completes the endurance laps, its energy usage is carefully tracked, and points are awarded based on the lowest energy consumption. This tests the team’s ability to optimize energy use, ensuring that the vehicle runs efficiently without sacrificing too much performance.
AbOUT US
We are a student-run organization based in Linköping, Sweden, dedicated to designing and building a Formula Student car each year. After completing the car, we compete against other Formula Student teams from around the world.
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