Formula SAE

Project Overview

Objective: Design and build MIT Motorsports first electric formula style racecar to compete in the collegiate competition

Role: Chassis team lead: designed steel tube space frame & suspension subsystems, oversaw integration of other systems into full vehicle assembly

Skills: CAD modeling, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Design for Manufacturing, Jig design, Vehicle dynamics, CNC Mill

Result: Designed and manufactured a large portion of the vehicle that was finished the following year

Project Description

MIT Motorsports is a dedicated group of students that strives to engineer a Formula SAE car of the highest caliber. Made up of undergraduate and graduate students, the team annually builds an electric racecar for the Formula SAE Electric competition in Southern California. Every year they design, manufacture, and race our newest racecar concept. At the Formula SAE competition, vehicle design experts from industry evaluate the team’s engineering quality, manufacturing cost, and fictional business plan. After a rigorous vehicle safety inspection, we are able to race against other university teams on various tracks, including a figure-eight skid pad and a 22 km endurance course.

In 2013, MIT Motorsports recognized that alternative propulsion methods are vital for a cleaner future, which led us to convert to an all-electric powertrain. We were motivated to help improve electric vehicle technology to reach a future where electric vehicles are a practical alternative to gasoline vehicles. I was nominated to lead the chassis sub-team in charge of designing and assembling the frame to house our new electric drivetrain as well as designing a new suspension system to optimize the vehicle's ride dynamics given the addition of the battery pack significantly changed the overall weight distribution.

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