Student racers recognised for innovation

The 2004 Formula Student team from Lulea University of Technology in Sweden has been awarded the IEE award for "Most innovative use of electrical engineering".

The 2004 Formula Student team from Lulea University of Technology in Sweden has been awarded the IEE award for "Most innovative use of electrical engineering".

The team's car features an iPAQ pocket PC built into the steering wheel for driver information, a wireless Bluetooth connection to the car, a driver heart rate monitor built into the helmet, and a semi-active rear suspension by controlling the current through the damper coils.

Presented by John Saville, retired Chief Information Officer for Jaguar Racing, at the culmination of the weekend racing competition for university engineering students, the winning team took home a trophy bearing a Jaguar Racing pushrod load cell.

"Formula Student is a unique opportunity to have our designs evaluated and our potential as engineers tested, in the automotive industries".

"Winning the 'Most innovative use of electrical engineering' gives us great confidence in our work and education", said David Johansson, Electronics Project Leader for the Lulea University of Technology team.

"I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts of the Lulea University of Technology team", says John Saville.

"They are well deserving of the IEE trophy for their outstanding contribution to electrical engineering at Formula Student 2004".

"Half of the team members were electronic/control engineers, making the difference in their achievements".

The "Most effective use of electronics" trophy, comprising a rapid prototype steering wheel for a Jordan F1 car, was awarded to the Bath University team, which demonstrated how it used electronics to improve the performance and competitiveness of its car through electronics to control the four-wheel drive.

John Saville commented: "The judges were impressed that the Bath University team could provide metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of their system".

Over four days, student-engineering teams raced their own speed cars, which they designed and built themselves, at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome and Proving Ground, near Leicester.

More than 75 teams attended it from the UK, Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia and Asia.

The event was run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in partnership with the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

The event is designed to promote careers and excellence in engineering.

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