Newsletter June - Formula Student

Newsletter June
2011
Chalmers Formula Student
Chalmers Formula Student (CFS) is run as a student project
and a course at Chalmers University of Technology,
Sweden. At the beginning of each Autumn an entirely new
team are recruited to the project and over the following eight
months they use the Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate
(CDIO) methodology to build a competitive formula student
car.
By mixing evolutionary and innovative design while working
as a team and learning from previous teams’ experiences,
the team of 2011 are aiming to make this year’s car,
the CFS11, a great success.
The CFS11
The CFS Team of 2011 are proud to present CFS11, the 10th
car to be produced by Chalmers University of Technology.
With the Yamaha FZ6 inline four cylinder engine and space
frame design, the CFS11 incorporates some features previously
seen on CFS cars, with some new for 2011 designs.
This year the team has however increased its analysis and
understanding of all designs as well as improved upon the
existing features.
The CFS11 boasts a stiff Chromoly frame enclosed by a
carbon fibre body. The body has been designed to provide
sufficient airflow through the radiator and ensure that the car
experiences downforce as opposed to lift. This has been
proved out using Computational Fluid Dynamics and a 1:3
scale, 3D printed, model in the wind tunnel at Chalmers. To
mention some of the key technical features of the car, it has
four identical cast aluminum uprights, pneumatic paddle
shift, wireless ECU/data Acquisition and a CFS developed
traction control system.
shop. Despite reduced availability of the machine shop and
a somewhat less experienced team than in previous years,
they were able to run CFS11 under its own power for the first
time on the 1st of May, earlier than any previous CFS team.
Last year’s car showcased at Chalmers career fair
Windtunnel testing
The students of Chalmers Formula student are among a
small group of teams who manufacture a large percentage
of the car themselves. This year has not been an exception
with many long evenings spent in the Chalmers machine
The upcoming season
Chalmers formula student will enter FSUK and FSAE Italy
with CFS11 during the upcoming season. The bar is set high
with the goal of reaching top 10 for both events. To reach this
the team must excel in both the dynamic and static events.
A well thought through design and extensive static and
dynamic testing of car, systems and components will ensure
that CFS11 is a reliable and well tuned car that will do well in
the dynamic events. Currently the team are in the “operate”
www.chalmers.se/formulastudent

June 2011
Through teamwork and innovation, while learning from
previous teams’ experiences, we will engineer an improved
and well-tuned car to reach top ten at FSUK 2011.
phase of the project which means the execution of an extensive
test programme. To date the team has completed
27km’s of shakedown testing and has an intense testing
schedule planned to obtain the best dynamic performance
from the car and drivers. Although initial testing has been
focused on finding reliability issues, the drivers have
reported that the handling exceeds their expectations.
Aside from testing, the static events are receiving a
concerted effort to ensure that we improve upon past years
preparations. A business plan has been written and the team
are preparing for design and cost events through rehearsals
with our expert panel, alumni and sponsors.
Rebuilding the engine
Project Manager’s Corner
I’ve was involved as a member of formula student teams
between 2004 and 2007 and after working in the Automotive
industry since graduating, I was offered the chance to return
to my former university and manage Chalmers Formula
Student for 2011. The level of competition has increased
significantly since my time competing and the project course
at Chalmers has changed dramatically too. I had my work
cut out to help the team achieve their goal of top 10.
One of the first mantras I began using was “data driven
decisions” which I later discovered was one of the Boeing
Commandments. Nothing was allowed to be on CFS11
unless it was justified through calculations or virtual and/or
physical testing and this is what I believe is engineering at its
most basic level. I stuck hard to this rule throughout the
concept and design phase and the team members have
gained an excellent insight into their systems and those that
they interact with. I would consider this, coupled to the drive
within the team, as the most important success factor in the
2011 project.
When looking at the technical specification of the vehicle
some may think we are lacking in advanced solutions,
however I believe it is the execution of simple solutions,
coupled to their simultaneous development, that will enable
CFS11 to reach its full potential. As the old saying goes “the
truth of the pudding is in the eating” and I am looking forward
to the final result at FSUK.
Jonathan Rice, CFS Project Manager
rice@chalmers.se
Follow Chalmers Formula Student at our website:
www.chalmers.se/formulastudent
www.chalmers.se/formulastudent