Formula Student is not just about coming first, it is also about developing and encouraging the next generation of racing engineers.
Former Formula 1 engineer and current Formula 1 CEO Ross Brawn is listed as the top sponsor of Formula 1 students.
He started as an aerodynamics engineer at Williams in 1977, and rose through the ranks through Haas, Lola, Arrows, technical director at Benetton and Ferrari, and team director at Honda, Brawn and Mercedes GB.
(The article continues below the image).
Or rather, the rear spoiler is more of a support function than in a Formula 1 car. Photo: NTNU Spin
Formula 1 dreams
– Many people dream of working in Formula 1. In fact, quite a few of them have achieved that as well. Many former members have had “internships” at Formula 1 teams such as Red Bull Racing, and some have also secured permanent jobs there and at other teams such as Mercedes and Alpine, says Kristina Ostted-Hardeland.
Kongsberg Gruppen and Fyryr are recruiting from Formula Student, while former members have set up new companies such as Evyon, Vilje Bionics and Alpha Motors, she says.
Article continues below adArticle continues below ad
(The article continues below the image).
Although the Lyra is relatively small, about 70 students from NTNU were on this year's team. Many of them dream of working in Formula 1. Photo: NTNU Spin
70 students in the team
“If you look at what Revolve needs in its bank account to be able to build a car, excluding spare parts and subsidized services, it's a budget in the millions,” says Kristina Ostad-Hardeland. Photo: NTNU Spin
Østtad Hardeland is 24 years old and in the final year of his master's degree in Engineering and ICT.
Previously, she was the group leader and production manager of the group that makes carbon fiber car bodywork.
In total, nearly 70 students participated in a car this year.
– One-third are alumni members, who have been involved in building cars in the past.
We are divided into four sections; Mechanical, electrical and software market group.
Article continues below adArticle continues below ad
I am writing my master's degree in Revolve NTNU and have a R&D position in Product Development Automation.
(The article continues below the image).
Very happy: Participants from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim were happy when the Norwegian Lyra was chosen as the best energy-efficient car this summer. Photo: NTNU Spin
– There are a total of 18 different fields of study in this year's team, where you have everything from mechanical engineers to electrical and software engineering, economics and management, says Oststad Hardeland.
Revolve NTNU started in 2010, and production of the first “Borealis” with a combustion engine was completed in 2012. Since 2014, student cars have been fully electric. In 2016 came the “Genest” car, which was the first Scandinavian four-wheel drive car in the championship. In 2018, the 'Eld' (from 2017) was rebuilt into the team's first self-driving car. She placed second overall that year. In 2019, Revolve NTNU won a design award in Germany for the “Nova”.
Article continues below ad
(The article continues below the image).
The Lyra is 2875 mm long, 1482 mm wide and 1193 mm high. In comparison, the maximum permissible width in the Shortcar is 158cm, while the length in the Shortcar cannot exceed 255cm. Photo: NTNU Spin
In the upper class
Formula Student is the world's largest student engineering competition. More than 1,000 registered teams from famous universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ETH Zurich and TU Munich are participating in the competition. Revolve NTNU maintains a high standard.
In the summer, the best teams gather at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, the Hungaroring in Hungary, the TT Assen in the Netherlands, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, the Autodrome Most in the Czech Republic and the Hockenheimring in Germany.
-You compete in dynamic and static exercises, so not only the cars are tested, but also the students. We must be able to explain the cost-driven options, show that we are capable of preparing a business plan and, not least, explain the design options throughout the process.
Article continues below ad
(The article continues below the image).
The steering wheel dominates the dashboard in Formula Student. Photo: NTNU Spin
– In addition, there is driving, where you test the car over several laps to demonstrate endurance, acceleration and, not least, road holding in the figure eight of driving. This is done with and without a driver, says Christina Ostad Hardeland.
Article continues below ad
In Germany, the Formula Student program is supported by companies such as Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Bosch and others. The common denominator is that they are all looking for new employees who are highly competent in both electrical and autonomous driving systems.
(The article continues below the image).
NTNU spin Photo: NTNU Spin
0-100 in 2.2 seconds
The goal is to build one car every year, which can be driven manually and autonomously. Lyra, an assembled car, finished sixth overall in Austria this summer, as well as several first places in Hungary in manual-drive and autonomous-drive events.
The competition in Germany is the largest, with all the major teams in the world competing. Here we had the most energy efficient car, which gave first place to 'efficiency'. We also came in fourth place overall, out of all the participants, says Kristina Østädt Hardeland.
– What is the cost of developing and sharing these cars?
Article continues below ad
– If Revolve operated like a real company and paid for everything itself, the expected price would have reached tens of millions of kroner. This is because we use advanced materials and production processes, as well as the latest software. A software license costs ordinary companies NOK 500,000 per person.
“Lira” weighs 164 kilograms. The 6.2 kWh battery pack produces 115 horsepower. Therefore, acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes 2.2 seconds.
This article was previously published in Finansavisen engine.
“Explorer. Unapologetic entrepreneur. Alcohol fanatic. Certified writer. Wannabe tv evangelist. Twitter fanatic. Student. Web scholar. Travel buff.”
