The Formula SAE Competition challenges SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate, and compete among themselves with small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the car frame and engine are limited to control costs and reward e knowledge, creativity, and imagination. Teams build their cars over a period of about one-year and then take them to the annual event in Detroit, MI to compete with at least 140 other vehicles from colleges and universities throughout the world. The end result is a meaningful engineering project experience for young engineers as well as the opportunity to work in a dedicated team effort.
This year's team, 13 young men majoring in Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, are designing and fabricating the vehicle as part of their requirements for graduation. 2005-2006 team members are: Craig Swan, Chris Windschill, Eric Wangen, Eric Newman, Steve Anderson, Dustin Peterson, Daniel Salinas, Marlon Aimable, Gussai Sheikheldin, John Kellander, Tim Wakefield, Paul Steevens, and Kayle Pauling.
Minnesota State University is located in southern Minnesota, and is one of seven state universities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Approximately 14,000 students attend the comprehensive university. Automotive Engineering Technology is a four-year, Bachelor of Science program located within the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology. The program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Minnesota State has a student branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The students are to assume that a manufacturing firm has engaged them to produce a prototype car for evaluation as a production item. The intended sales market is the nonprofessional weekend autocross racer. Therefore, the car must achieve high performance in acceleration, braking, and handling. This is tested by the autocross, skid-pad, and endurance events at the national competition. The car must be low in cost, easy to maintain, and reliable. In addition, the car's marketability is enhanced by other factors such as aesthetics, comfort, and use of common parts. The challenge to the team is to design and fabricate a prototype car that best meets these goals. Each design will be compared and judged with other competing designs to determine the best overall car.
Estimated Cost: $18,000
