WRITTEN BY GABRIEL BERETOV
With the first day of the 2023 FSAE-A competition complete, UOW Motorsport was ready to tackle Day 2. Commencing with the Design Presentations at 9 AM, the team was tasked with looking at multiple aspects of the design of the vehicle including ergonomics, vehicle performance, concept integration and management and EV-tractive system.
The UOW Motorsport team members are separated into their intricate systems, assuming their roles to a panel of judges. The presentation and process however extend far beyond a mere exposition of ideas demanding more than a surface-level explanation. The team is compelled to delve deeper, providing a comprehensive exploration of why specific design choices were made over alternatives. Each presentation becomes a window into the team’s thought processes and technical expertise, illustrating how these decisions contribute to a more desirable engineered design.
Following the Design presentation, the team transitioned to the 11 am Cost Event, which is comprised of three key components: the cost challenge, cost task, and cost scenario. The cost challenge involves teams comparing their cost estimates for designing, manufacturing, and assembling car components with a provided cost accuracy sheet from FSAE-A. This sheet establishes a baseline for expected expenses, testing the teams’ ability to estimate and manage costs effectively.
During the cost task, judges scrutinise teams’ understanding of a designated car assembly, probing for precise knowledge on materials, manufacturing processes, and fasteners. This segment evaluates teams’ comprehension of both the material specifics and practical aspects of assembly.
The cost scenario, involves teams analysing potential rule changes impacting the upcoming year’s competition. Teams must provide evidence and reasoning to support their analysis, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the potential consequences of the proposed rule changes. This includes showcasing how the alterations would impact the overall cost score when compared to other competitors in the field. In essence, the cost scenario serves as a forward-looking exercise that challenges teams to anticipate and quantify the financial implications of hypothetical rule adjustments on their competitive standing.
Following a short break the team is met with the final static event of the competition, the business presentation. This event goes beyond the technical aspects of building a race car and shifts the focus to the team’s ability to communicate the strategic, financial, and marketing elements associated with their project.
During the business presentation, teams typically address topics such as budgeting, fundraising, sponsorship acquisition, market analysis, and overall project management. Judges assess not only the team’s understanding of these business-related facets but also their effectiveness in conveying this information in a clear, organised, and compelling manner.
To finish off the day the final scrutineering opens up with EV2. Just as with all the other scrutineering, the scrutineers are meticulous with their details, carefully identifying every aspect of the car and ensuring that the vehicle meets safety standards and is rules-compliant.
