FSAE Breakdown
FSAE Breakdown
Formula SAE is an annual collegiate competition where students design, build, and race a small open-wheeled racecar against other college teams. Teams from all across the globe travel to Michigan International Speedway each year to compete in this event. The competition is broken into two categories: static events and dynamic events.
Static events are where industry professionals judge the quality of the car and the team through a series of reports and presentations. Dynamic events are where the car races a series of time trials against other teams. The five dynamic events are Acceleration, Endurance, Autocross, Efficiency, and Skidpad. A breakdown of the events and scoring is below.
Dynamic Events
Acceleration
Acceleration is a test of the car's acceleration from 0-75 meters. The car must accelerate in a straight line and reach the highest speed possible.
Autocross
The objective is to evaluate the car’s maneuverability and handling qualities on a tight course without the hindrance of competing cars. The course will combine the performance features of acceleration, braking and cornering into one event.
Skidpad
The objective is to measure the car’s cornering ability on a flat surface while making a constant-radius turn. The course will be a pair of concentric circles in shape of the number 8.
Efficiency
Cars are judged on their fuel efficiency during the Endurance event.
Endurance
Over a distance of 22 km, the cars have to prove their durability under long-term conditions. Acceleration, speed, handling, dynamics, fuel efficiency, reliability – the cars have to prove it all.
Static Events
Design Presentation
The students explain their constructive solutions to a jury of experts from the automotive industry to evaluate the engineering effort went into the design of the car, and how it meets the intent of the market.
Cost Report
The students are to assume that a serial production of 1000 cars a year will follow the prototype. The cost calculation is discussed with a jury based on a report.
Business Presentation
The objective is to evaluate the team’s ability to develop and deliver a comprehensive business case that will convince the executives of a fictional manufacturing firm that the team’s design can be profitably manufactured and marketed.