The chassis of the car essentially holds every component together, and therefore, must be structurally safe while keeping as light as possible.
This department is not only responsible for the chassis, but also the ergonomic aspects such as driver vision and comfort, and the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle through streamline packaging and other performance enhancing devices.
The powertrain comprises the main components that generate power and deliver that power to the tyres, and thereby to the road surface.
Electric cars can have a more diverse powertrain setup from traditional internal combustion engine cars, as electric motors can be sized up or down depending on the design of the mechanical driveline.
How does a car turn? Why do some cars feel smooth while others feel bumpy?
The Suspension & Steering Department takes on one of the most fundamental challenges of designing a car for high performance. You would be surprised by how much difference just a few millimeters of change in suspension/steering setup can make to the handling performance of the car.
From simple pedal signal outputs, to high voltage battery management systems, the EE Department is responsible for every aspect that makes the Electric Vehicle Racing Group, well, electric. The EE Department is at the forefront of the EVRG’s technical development, and is pushing to develop better control systems, and even self-driving cars!
Responsible for overseeing the big picture, the Vehicle Dynamics Department must work closely with all of the Departments to make sure that the design makes sense. They are also responsible for developing performance simulations through vehicle modeling, and often provide much insight during the concept generation phase of the design cycle.
Without the driver, there is no motorsports.
Driver feedback ensures that there is a clear and systematic communication between the engineers and the drivers so that most optimal design and setup can be achieved. But giving concise and constructive feedback itself is a difficult challenge for non-professional drivers, so it is up to the Driver Feedback Department to develop effective methods.
There is a very real business aspect to the Formula Student competitions. The Business & Operations Department is responsible for two main things:
1) to prepare for the business case section of the Formula Student competition,
and 2) to manage the day-to-day operations of the team,
such as communicating with various school offices, reaching out to potential sponsors, and developing team infrastructure.