86474 - Formula Sae Lab M

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Mechanical Engineering (cod. 0938)

    Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Advanced Automotive Engineering (cod. 9239)

Learning outcomes

The main objective of the Course is to provide hands-on design, manufacturing, development and testing experience. Students are allowed to participate in an interdisciplinary competition such as Formula SAE or MotoStudent, and to develop a specific study, or project related to next year prototype (2- or 4-wheels), guided by the team leaders, and by professionals and professors.

An introductory part will be provided to analyze Formula SAE and MotoStudent rules and regulations, and to present an overview of the main concepts related to powertrain, vehicle, and control systems.

During the course, students spend most of the time in the Unibo Motorsport lab, conducting different types of studies or tests, and developing their project in one of the following fields: powertrain, vehicle, control/electronics. The rest of the time is spent in the classroom/computer room.

Course contents

  • Formula SAE and Motostudent rules and regulations.
  • Unibo Motorsport project: structure, roles and personal contribution.
  • Introduction to the main characteristics of the Unibo MotoStudent and Formula SAE 2018 prototypes. Analysis of their peculiarities and performance.
  • Development of a personal or group project in one of the following areas (either moto or auto): powertrain, vehicle, control/electronics.

Readings/Bibliography

Handouts concerning the main elements of the course will be made available through the Unibo network (AMS Campus).

Teaching methods

The course is held in English. The main aspects of Formula SAE/MotoStudent competitions, in terms of regulations and vehicle characteristics, are briefly introduced during class lectures, while most of the course should provide hands-on experience during the personal/group project. All the specific software needed for the analysis will be provided by the team, together with some introductory tutorials.

Attendance (and participation to the team’s daily life) is strongly recommended for better learning of concepts and methodologies, but does not affect the final evaluation process.

Assessment methods

Learning assessment is finalized through a final oral examination, which takes place for about 60-90 minutes, answering a few questions about automotive systems but mainly discussing the final report the student will produce about his personal or group project.

This test is intended to verify the student knowledge about the main subjects of the course. The final evaluation, either positive or negative,takes into account the ability to solve problems in the matters discussed in the project, and the acquisition of engineering methodologies for designing, developing, and testing automotive components.

The evaluation will be higher the more the student is:

  • capable of synthesizing the most important issues related to the performance of Formula SAE and MotoStudent vehicles;
  • exhaustive in explaining the topics and the contents of the project developed during the course

During the exam, students are not allowed to use the lecture notes or other material except their project, and they are required to have an identity document.

Teaching tools

Slides and audio-visual supports will be used throughout the course.

Class notes will be distributed to the students through the University online platform before each lecture.

Office hours

See the website of Nicolò Cavina