What is Formula Student?

The biggest student competition in the world.

©FSG-Maru

History

The competition exists since 1981 and has evolved a lot. Today there are many events worldwide, attended by students from various universities. Several hundert teams compete against each other in different classes. Among them are 4 Swiss teams. At first there was just a combustion class, in 2010 an electric class was introduced and since 2017 there is a driverless class.

During the event the vehicle is checked to comply with the rules and be safe, then different disciplines are performed. There are static and dynamics discipines. In the dynamic disciplines longitudinal and lateral acceleration are tested, and there is an endurance race, during which the vehicle must complete a distance of 22 km as quickly as possible. Not only time but also energy efficiency is rated. In the static disciplines the considerations of the students are examined. In engineering design the students present their technical design. Beside engineering design there is also a cost and a business discipline.


Event Timeline

In January, all teams must pass a rules quiz in order to qualify for the event. In the months leading up to the competition, various documents also need to be submitted.
The event spans six days.
On Day 1, teams arrive on site, complete the registration of all team members, submit their accumulator, and attend the welcome ceremony in the evening.
Days 2 through 4 are dedicated to the technical inspection of the vehicles, which involves passing several stations to receive approval for driving.
During the same period, the static events take place.
On the evening of Day 4, the SkidPad discipline is held. Day 5 features the dynamic events Acceleration and Autocross.
Finally, the event concludes on Day 6 with the Endurance race.

Classes

Combustion

Not represented at Formula Student Switzerland.
The combustion class was the first one.
Teams usually use a combustion motor of a motorcycle and use it to build a racecar.
Combustion is still the most widely spread class among teams.
For teams with small budgets, it's an opportunity to nonetheless take part in a very intensive project.

Electric

The electric class was introduced in 2010 by Formula Student Germany and allows the teams to use electric instead of combustive motors.
Some teams build their own motors and batteries and accordingly push the technology.
This class is currently growing and increasingly accepted at events.

Driverless

Not considered for 2020.
The driverless class was introduced 2017 by Formula Student Germany.
Teams take an older vehicle, combustive or electric, rebuild it and equip it with sensors, so that it can race without a driver.

Disciplines

Engineering Design

At engineering design the students are questioned about the design of the vehicle. The students prepare and show the judges their technical Design.

Cost and Manufacturing

The team analyses the cost of the car and their finances and answers questions about costs and manufacturing of the parts.

Business Presentation

At the business presentation the students present a fictional sales strategy. The judges represent investors, which have to be convinced to invest in the imaginary company.

Acceleration

The vehicle has to drive 75m from a standing position, as fast as possible.

Skid Pad

The Vehicle has to drive 2 circles, one left and one right.

Autocross

The vehicle has to race a track as fast as possible.

Endurance

The vehicle has to race a track of about 22 km.

Efficiency

From the vehicles that finished the endurance, the used energy is calculated.