The
history of the Formula SAE competition goes back to 1978, when competitors from
the Society of Automotive Engineering's (SAE) popular Mini-Baja competition sought
to move the race from an offroad track to a paved racetrack.The 1979 'SAE Mini Indy' took place at the University of
Houston and restricted the cars to 5-hp B&S engines.The initial competition proved hard to organize and it wasn't
until 1981 that the race re-appeared with a new name and new rules.The new Formula SAE name and minimum engine restrictions brought about
the birth of Formula SAE as we now know it.The 1981 race caught the attention of six schools, however only four
showed up for the competition.The
Formula SAE race now attracts about 150 competitors from around the world.
Carleton
University first entered the Formula SAE competition in 1998.Since then, fourth-year engineering students have been
designing, building and racing FSAE cars as their fourth-year project.A year-long fourth-year design
project is a graduation requirement for
engineering students and Formula SAE provides an excellent opportunity to put
students skills to work.
The
Formula SAE competition is for students to conceive, design, fabricate and
compete with a small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the
car frame and engine are limited so that the knowledge, creativity and
imagination of the students are challenged. For the purpose of this
competition, the students are to assume that a manufacturing firm has engaged
them to produce a prototype car for evaluation as a production item. The
cars are judged in a series of static and dynamic events, solo performance
trials and high performance track endurance. The car must be low in cost
(below USD$ 25,000), easy to maintain and reliable. As well, the cars
marketability is enhanced by such factors as aesthetics, comfort and use of
common parts. Typically, Carleton Formula SAE racing cars include features such as
turbocharging, computer-controlled engine management, fully independent double
wishbone suspension and a tubular space frame. Construction of such a vehicle
highlights design issues related to manufacturability, and provides an
opportunity for valuable hands-on experience with a wide variety of advanced
manufacturing processes.
In
the past the Carleton team has placed respectably, generally finishing in the
top third.However,
after some minor setbacks last year, the team/project has been restructured and
geared towards producing a more competitive car that will be ready for testing
well before the competition.We are currently designing a new racecar for the 2002-2003 race season. The
fall term efforts will focus on design and analysis of all components of the
vehicle andcollection of data using the 2001-2002 car as a
test bed. Manufacturing, testing and preparation of the 2002-2003 car will take
place in the winter term.
Pictures
and information about previous Carleton FSAE teams:
The
history of the Formula SAE competition goes back to 1978, when competitors from
the Society of Automotive Engineering's (SAE) popular Mini-Baja competition sought
to move the race from an offroad track to a paved racetrack. The 1979 'SAE Mini Indy' took place at the University of
Houston and restricted the cars to 5-hp B&S engines. The initial competition proved hard to organize and it wasn't
until 1981 that the race re-appeared with a new name and new rules.
The new Formula SAE name and minimum engine restrictions brought about
the birth of Formula SAE as we now know it.
The 1981 race caught the attention of six schools, however only four
showed up for the competition. The
Formula SAE race now attracts about 150 competitors from around the world. 
The
Formula SAE competition is for students to conceive, design, fabricate and
compete with a small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the
car frame and engine are limited so that the knowledge, creativity and
imagination of the students are challenged. For the purpose of this
competition, the students are to assume that a manufacturing firm has engaged
them to produce a prototype car for evaluation as a production item. The
cars are judged in a series of static and dynamic events, solo performance
trials and high performance track endurance. The car must be low in cost
(below USD$ 25,000), easy to maintain and reliable. As well, the cars
marketability is enhanced by such factors as aesthetics, comfort and use of
common parts. Typically, Carleton Formula SAE racing cars include features such as
turbocharging, computer-controlled engine management, fully independent double
wishbone suspension and a tubular space frame. Construction of such a vehicle
highlights design issues related to manufacturability, and provides an
opportunity for valuable hands-on experience with a wide variety of advanced
manufacturing processes. 
However,
after some minor setbacks last year, the team/project has been restructured and
geared towards producing a more competitive car that will be ready for testing
well before the competition.