The Formula E (elastic) challenge aka. M3 Racer Project, aka “The Rubber
Racer” has been held annually during the month of August since 2006 in Art Center College of Design’s Graduate Industrial Design Department.
The 14 Week long design project culminates with student teams competing in a variety of events with their uniquely designed remote controlled race vehicles propelled by energy stored in 16 feet of rubber band.
The event takes place on the smooth paved sidewalks of the Art Center sculpture garden and includes a road course, a drag race, and a hill climb, In addition there are awards for a beauty contest, and for the team that wins the most other events: a best in show award.
For 2011 the teams were additionally challenged to find a charitable local organization and to use their creativity to generate donations for the charity through their race activity.
Formula e vehicles are designed and developed utilizing scratch-build fabrication techniques as well as with computers and rapid prototyping tools, advanced materials and mechanisms that regularly produce sophisticated design solutions that rapidly accelerate to speeds over 25mph.
The Grad ID classes involved with the project are designed to teach lessons in strategy, product development, science, engineering, design, fabrication, branding, communications, and event planning through a fun and real world product development experience.
In the process students learn about competition, working in teams, setting goals, making plans and then implementing them with various measures of success despite surprises and adversity.
The rules and specifications for formula E racing evolve slowly. Each generation of Formula E vehicles has evolved in regard to design sophistication by innovative thinking that furthers advancements made by teams in prior years.
There are 5 contests in the formula e challenge. They are designed to challenge the teams to build strategies that select superior performance and competitive advantage in specific contests- with a likely outcome that in pursuing success in all contests – it will necessarily require compromises in having advantages in any one of them.
THE CONTESTS
The Eckles build design and approach trophy
This Concours d’Elegance - like event is judged by a blue ribbon panel that will determine award of the trophy for best design aesthetics, craftsmanship, and mechanical elegance. Named in honor of distinguished Art Center faculty Gaylord Eckles who introduced a rubberband powered car project to the college in the 1980s.
Sculpture Garden Flats
A figure 8 with obstacles. At 322 feet this is the longest of the formula e tracks. This event puts emphasis on driving skill and ability of the vehicle to accelerate, brake and corner. Vehicles race one at a time against the clock.
Ashtray Alley Drag way
A classic drag race layout emphasizing, acceleration, top speed and straight line stability. Vehicles race one at a time against the clock on the 136 foot long straight.
Sinclair Masters Hill Climb
This course is 228 feet of uphill grade with one 90 degree left turn midway. The event puts emphasis on vehicles to have sufficient torque and on driver skill to navigate the turn without losing too much momentum.
Best in Show
This trophy recognizes the team with the best collective point score accumulated through performance in the other contests.
Typical Design and Engineering considerations
Layout; number of wheels; drive wheels and free wheels
Drive Train and Rubber Strip configuration (geared drive vs. direct drive etc.)
Wheel diameters (circumference x number of winds = distance)
Wheel base and track,
Rolling resistance
Traction
Power vs. weight
Acceleration
Top Speed
Torque
Performance requirements for each event
Transmissions
Bearings, bushings, shafts and all hardware
Winding method
RC components, function and placement
Steering geometry
Brake components
Driving skills and driving techniques
Structure, Chassis Rigidity vs. Body Flexion
Materials: woods, metals, plastics, composites, etc.
Methods of manufacturing, attachments and adhesives
Dynamic forces and loads
Weight to strength ratio
Durability Resilience; impact survival
Center of Gravity, weight distribution, rolling resistance
Kinetics/Motion, moving parts in an assembly
Steering geometry
Brake components
Driving skills and driving techniques
Aesthetics
Performance Testing and Reliability
Aerodynamics
