Formula SAE programs are like factories for churning out great engineers. For many young engineering students, FSAE is their first real world engineering experience where they must apply the things they've learned and work efficiently with team members. In addition to having their noses stuffed in books and their brains struggling to keep up with the information, they spend a year (sometimes two) constantly thinking about their design, their deadlines, bringing it all together and praying for success.
Fortunately, there is no real penalty for failure at the FSAE competitions, but frankly, I've never met an engineer who didn't thrive off of winning. It's heartbreaking to witness a team that has put in so much effort for such a long time compete well in all of the events, only to watch their car break down in the grueling endurance race, ruining all hopes for a top ten finish. On average, only 35-40% of teams are able to finish the 22 kilometer endurance event each year.
Lots of information here about the Formula Design series. As of this year, there are nine Formula competitions worldwide.
Fortunately, there is no real penalty for failure at the FSAE competitions, but frankly, I've never met an engineer who didn't thrive off of winning. It's heartbreaking to witness a team that has put in so much effort for such a long time compete well in all of the events, only to watch their car break down in the grueling endurance race, ruining all hopes for a top ten finish. On average, only 35-40% of teams are able to finish the 22 kilometer endurance event each year.
Lots of information here about the Formula Design series. As of this year, there are nine Formula competitions worldwide.
Helsinki Polytechnik '07
Virginia Tech '07
Cal Poly Pomona '07
University of Western Australia '07
TU Graz '07
Part of the competition involves several static events like a sales presentation and a design competition. Some sales presentation videos from Virginia Tech over the past few years...
2005
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