TEAM STRUCTURE
How are we organized?
The Team currently has 3 ongoing projects (two electric vehicles and a driverless vehicle) and is divided into 12 subteams: Aerodynamics, Chassis, Control Systems, Cooling, Design, Drivetrain, Electric Motors, Manufacturing, Marketing, Suspension & Steering, Powertrain and Vehicle Dynamics. The projects are supervised by two chief engineers, one for the electric car and the other for the driverless car, who use their experience to support and coordinate the subteams in order to avoid possible development delays. The team is managed by a team manager – who is primarily concerned with the organization and structure of the team and supervises the members, and a project manager – who observes and manages the car development process from all aspects, including timeline, financial development and the production plan.
Each subteam consists of a subteam leader and about 6 to 10 members, each with their own role and responsibilities. They are divided by seniority, knowledge, and experience into Senior and Junior Engineers and Team Members. Senior members are the bearers of the project and perform all tasks independently, Junior members are usually younger and spend less time on the project, while Team Members are all members from the entry into the team until they prove their knowledge and commitment.

CLICK ON SUBTEAM ICON FOR MORE INFO:

AERODYNAMICS
CHASSIS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLING
DESIGN
DRIVERLESS
DRIVETRAIN
ELECTRIC MOTORS
MANUFACTURING
MARKETING
POWERTRAIN
SUSPENSION & STEERING
VEHICLE DYNAMICS
AERODYNAMICS
The Aerodynamics subteam has the task of developing and testing the car’s aero package, which aims to improve the car’s balance by manipulating the airflow around aero components such as the front, rear and side wings and the underbody panelling. Sophisticated load simulations and extensive testing are used to increase efficiency and reduce the mass of the finished aero package.
SKILLS
  • Fluid mechanics
  • CFD
  • CAD
  • Knowledge of composites, cores, resin, etc.
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Organization
TASKS
  • Conceptual development of aero package (components and global assembly)
  • Creating and modifying CFD simulation settings
  • CFD component simulation, iteration of geometries based on analysis
  • Geometry modelling for CFD simulations
  • Post-process analysis of simulated geometries and decision making in the design phase
  • Development of multi-element aerofoil sets for aero package components
  • Optimizing cooling air flow
  • Mapping the results obtained from simulations
  • Development and development of load-bearing parts of packages
  • FEA simulations of load-bearing parts of composite structures
  • Manufacturing of composite structures
SOFTWARE
  • SimScale
  • ParaView
  • Siemcenter STAR-CCM+
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • MS Excel
CHASSIS
The Chassis subteam deals with the entire development cycle of a composite monocoque chassis – modeling, simulation, manufacturing, and testing. Detailed knowledge of the properties and applications of composite and sandwich structures is therefore essential. The chassis tightly integrates all the different subsystems of the vehicle, which requires timely and efficient collaboration with other subteams to achieve optimal results.
SKILLS
  • Mechanics (Statics and dynamics)
  • Strength of materials
  • Finite Elements Analysis
  • Knowledge of composites, cores, resins, etc.
  • Knowledge of mould making materials
TASKS
  • CAD design of monocoque chassis
  • Design of monocoque chassis moulds and moulds of composite parts
  • Manufacturing of chassis and other composite parts
  • FEA and topology optimization of monocoque chassis and all structural composite parts
  • Determining the layout of the monocoque chassis and consulting other subteams in selecting layouts for their composite components
  • Conducting the calculations of the strength of the monocoque chassis according to the rules of the Formula Student
  • FEM and security impact attenuator design
  • Driver's ergonomy, CAD, FEA of pedalbox, seat, steering wheel
SOFTWARE
  • Abaqus
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • MATLAB
  • MS Office
CONTROL SYSTEMS
The subteam Control Systems is mainly concerned with the development and integration of various estimation and control algorithms in the Vehicle Control Unit, with the aim of improving driving dynamics. Furthermore, the subteam is responsible for ensuring successful communication between all other control units in the vehicle and has the task of creating a telemetry system that enables live monitoring and maintaining safe operational state of the vehicle.
SKILLS
  • Control and Estimation theory
  • Vehicle Dynamics
  • Electric vehicle architecture
  • Electrical engineering
TASKS
  • Development of vehicle dynamics control algorithms
  • Development of battery control algorithms
  • Vehicle and battery state estimation
  • Sensor data processing
  • Vehicle state monitoring
  • Integration of algorithms on Vehicle Control Unit
  • Telemetry development
SOFTWARE
  • MATLAB / Simulink
  • AVL VSM
  • PCAN-View/Vector CANalyzer
  • MS Excel
Cooling
The Cooling subteam is tasked with designing and manufacturing a cooling system that is powerful enough to keep the vehicle cool at full power while remaining as lightweight as possible and meeting the restrictions of coolant regulations. To support this task and complete the design of the system, simulations are used extensively, after which manufacturing begins.
SKILLS
  • Heat transfer and fluid mechanics
  • CFD
  • CAD
  • Knowledge of material properties
TASKS
  • Development of CFD flow simulations
  • Thermodynamic calculations and one-dimensional simulations
  • Development of cooling system components
  • Selection of purchased and standard components
  • Development of heat exchangers for electric motor drive
SOFTWARE
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • MATLAB & Simulink
  • SimScale/Openfoam
DESIGN
The Design subteam is concerned with enhancing the team’s overall appearance and brand recognition, in line with modern graphic design standards. Among their many tasks are livery design, UI design, photo and video editing as well as web design and rendering of the vehicle and its components, used to provide promotional shots as well as detailed figures and mock-ups for competition submissions.
SKILLS
  • Graphic design
  • Working with basic graphic standards
  • Pre-press and printing processes
  • Illustration
  • Content creation
  • Creativity
  • Thinking out of the box
  • Attention to detail
TASKS
  • Development of graphic solutions - logos, typography, posters, brochures, websites, etc.
  • Close collaboration with other subteams, mostly Marketing
  • Design and visualization of team clothes
  • Rendering / visualization / illustration
  • Creating and editing photos and videos
  • UI Design / Web Design (front-end and back-end knowledge, WordPress)
  • Fulfilling tasks within deadlines
SOFTWARE
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Lightroom
  • Adobe After Effect
  • Adobe Premier Pro
  • KeyShot 9
  • SOLIDWORKS/Catia
DRIVERLESS
In the Driverless subteam/team main goal is to transform one of our previous cars driven by the driver into autonomous one. Our task is to develop a software platform which will help our car in percepting environment, provide an accurate estimate the car’s position, build a map of the track, plan and navigate it along the ideal trajectory around the track. Beside autonomous software platform, we also must integrate some hardware changes on the vehicle like steer by wire, brake by wire and emergency braking system.
SKILLS
  • Linux / bash
  • Python, C / C++
  • Computer Vision
  • Neural networks and Machine learning
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Control and Estimation theory
TASKS
  • Camera object recognition
  • LiDAR point-cloud based object detection
  • Sensor fusion
  • Simultaneous Localization and Mapping
  • Trajectory optimization
  • Vehicle motion planning and control
SOFTWARE
  • ROS
  • Gazebo simulator
  • Unreal Engine
  • MATLAB / Simulink
DRIVETRAIN

The Drivetrain subteam designs and develops the mechanical side of the vehicle’s powertrain, making iterative improvements to find the most efficient way to transfer torque from the motors. A rigorous concept selection process is followed by calculation, modelling, detailing, and optimization, and finally the procurement of standard parts and the manufacture of non-standard parts, as well as assembly.

SKILLS
  • CAD
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Topology optimization
  • Technical documentation
TASKS
  • Concept development
  • Framework calculations in Python
  • Gear, shaft and bearing calculations in KISSsoft
  • Development of CAD models
  • FEM analysis of shafts, housings, gears in Abaqus
  • Topology optimization of housing and gears in Abaqus
  • Model detailing
SOFTWARE
  • Abaqus
  • Python
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • KeySoft
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • MS Excel
ELECTRIC MOTORS

The work in the Electric Motors subteam can be roughly divided into three parts: electrical design, motor design and the modelling and development of the engine cooling system. The development starts with the definition of the basic performance that the motors must meet and the definition of their limit values, after which the design and manufacturing can begin in earnest.

SKILLS
  • Electromagnetism
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • CAD
  • Knowledge of material characteristics
  • Interdisciplinarity
TASKS
  • Electromagnetism
  • - Stator and rotor geometry design
  • - Satisfying the requirements of force and momentum
  • - Calculation of heat fluxes in the engine
  • - Efficiency map calculation
  • - Geometry optimization
  • Constructio
  • - Shaft design
  • - Housing construction
  • - Bearing selection
  • - Selection of sensors and other parts
SOFTWARE
  • SimScale
  • Motor-CAD
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • MATLAB
MANUFACTURING
The Manufacturing subteam primarily manages and monitors the manufacturing of the vehicle’s numerous individual components and carries out quality control of the team’s technical documentation. While most test benches are designed and manufactured in-house, advanced machining services are provided by sponsors. Successful cooperation with them is essential for the successful completion of the project.
SKILLS
  • Turning
  • Lamination
  • Grinding
  • Welding
  • Soldering
  • Drilling
  • All other work in the team garage
TASKS
  • Review of technical documentation of parts forwarded for manufacturing
  • Advising members of other sub-teams so that parts are constructed in accordance with the capabilities of production technologies
  • Finding machining companies and arranging the manufacturing
  • Construction of various devices required for quality team performance (battery trolley, chassis torsional stiffness test device, etc.)
  • Improving team's production technologies
  • Manufactured parts assembly
  • Vehicle assembly
  • Technical documentation preparation for static events of FS competitions
SOFTWARE
  • AutoCAD
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • MS Excel
MARKETING

The main field of work of the Marketing subteam is to attract sponsors for the team by presenting the project and its results to different sponsors. The subteam’s tasks also include promoting the team and managing its presence in social media as well as organizing meetings with potential partners and the media. Finally, the Marketing subteam is responsible for organizing the unveiling of our new cars when each project is finished.

SKILLS
  • Communication skills
  • The art of negotiation
  • Creativity
  • Organization skills
  • Presentation
TASKS
  • Communication with sponsors
  • Meetings with sponsors and team presentation
  • Social networking
  • Compiling texts of press releases
  • Organization of meetings with sponsors and media
  • Request for bids for the procurement of equipment and materials
  • Presentations and booths
SOFTWARE
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • MS PowerPoint
  • WordPress
POWERTRAIN
The Powertrain subteam oversees the development of the overall electrical architecture of the vehicle, including the development of the battery pack, selection and programming of the BMS and safety, control and signal processing hardware development. The subteam’s goal is to develop a safe, efficient and high-performance powertrain with the primary goal of achieving strong results in competitions.
SKILLS
  • Electronics
  • Electrical engineering
  • Programming
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Organization
TASKS
  • Development of the battery pack concept
  • Selection of fuses, relays and protective electronics within the battery pack
  • Battery pack manufacturing
  • Development of heat exchangers for electric motor drive
  • Selection and integration of sensors of various sizes
  • Design of embedded computer systems
  • PCB design
  • Installation of electronic circuits
  • Wiring
  • Testing of electronic circuits
  • Embedded computer system programming
SOFTWARE
  • Altium Designer
  • MATLAB
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • MS Excel
  • STM32CubeIDE
  • Arduino IDE
SUSPENSION & STEERING

The Suspension and Steering subteam designs suspension concepts in CAD software and validates them. After concept evaluation and selection, topology optimization is used to trim the mass while maintaining high stiffness. Suspension kinematics and steering assembly are iterated and adapted to the driver to ensure ergonomic fit.

SKILLS
  • Designing
  • Technical documentation
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Topology
TASKS
  • Determination of kinematics in Lotus suspension analyser
  • Design of wheel assembly CAD
  • Topology optimization of positions in Abaqus
  • Design and calculation of wheel actuation circuit
  • Dimensioning of forks and suspension brackets
  • Manufacturing of steering rack and steering column
  • Assistance in manufacturing and assembling suspension positions
  • Adjusting the suspension and steering after fitment
SOFTWARE
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • Abaqus
  • MSC Adams
VEHICLE DYNAMICS

The main purpose of the Vehicle Dynamics subteam is to improve the performance of the vehicle. The measurements made by various sensors during the testing are supplemented by simulations of validated vehicle models. Vehicle simulation models allow the rapid testing of different parameter combinations that strongly influence vehicle behavior and performance. The forces acting on the suspension and the chassis during driving are determined. Close cooperation with many subteams is crucial for achieving the desired performance values.

SKILLS
  • Understanding Vehicle Dynamics
  • Load analysis
  • Teory of Mechanisms
  • Vibrations
  • Understanding Tire Model
  • Race car drivetrain layout
  • Understanding Vehicle Kinematics
  • Understanding suspension and steering systems
TASKS
  • Vehicle performance analysis
  • Development of vehicle dynamics control
  • Algorithms
  • Testing data processing
  • Vehicle dynamics simulations
  • Tire Modeling
  • Vehicle layout and drivetrain concepting
  • Modeling vehicle subsystems for simulation
  • Vehicle validation and correlation
SOFTWARE
  • MATLAB & Simulink
  • AVL VSM
  • MSC Adams Car
  • Lotus Suspension Analysis
  • MS Excel