Our Methodology
Carleton Formula Electric is divided into seven different subteams, each concerned with a different aspect of development for the car.
Structures
The structures subteam on Carleton Formula Electric focuses on the design, development, and manufacturing of the car’s steel tube frame, accumulator outer shell, and bodywork components. One of the team’s most critical areas of design is always the car’s frame, which serves as the primary focus and upmost priority for the structures team.
Dynamics
The dynamics subteam designs any components responsible for the vehicles stability, performance and responsiveness. Some key focuses for the team are the suspension geometry and the anti roll setup as well as the seamless integration of the wheel hub inside the rims. This subteam is very design and simulation heavy working with softwares like SolidWorks, ARD, Ansys and others.
Low Voltage Electronics
The low voltage subteam focuses on the design and manufacturing of all the safety and data related electronics of the car. Everything from monitoring sensors to recording and displaying that data on a custom dashboard. Our work connects all sub teams and allows us to build a better car.
High Voltage Electronics
CFE’s high voltage electronics subteam focuses entirely on the systems of the vehicle that are directly connected to the car’s accumulator. This means module configuration, pack specifications, high voltage wiring, and everything it takes to efficiently move energy from the battery and into the motor. The high voltage team usually consists of a small number of highly knowledgeable engineers as it tackles some of the most mission-critical and high-stakes design work for the car.
Powertrain
Carleton Formula Electric’s powertrain subteam focuses on everything that it takes to deliver power from the motor to the tires. Spools, chains, motor mounts, and many more critical designs are handled by this team each year. Refinements in powertrain mean a car that is more efficient and reliable at putting power to the road.
Software
The software subteam consists of a diverse team of developers with projects that can range from embedded development of the car’s firmware systems, to full stack software development projects in support of the car’s development and data analysis pipeline. Often a large team with many unique projects occuring on and around the car, the software subteam aims to develop a car that is smarter each year and help other engineers gain insight into KPIs and metrics they can use to track the car’s performance.
