The student team presented the first self-driving electrical formula in the Czech Republic at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Two new student formulas were revealed on 4 September after technical presentations. Despite the cancellation of all international Formula Student races, the eForce FEE Prague Formula team did not slow down in development and presented the invited guests with a complete novelty in addition to the optimized electric formula model - a self-driving formula that the team was the first to construct in the Czech Republic. Both formulas have won several awards this summer in online alternatives to traditional international races.
The eForce FEE Prague Formula team consists of 60 bachelor's and master's students, who study mainly at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. This season, the team has been newly expanded with the so-called driverless division, which worked on a self-driving formula in cooperation with the rest of the team. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the students decided to use an already proven chassis - composite monococks, the production of which was significantly delayed due to safety restrictions.
The development of the ninth generation of the electric monopost was in the spirit of optimizing last year's model of the formula, which won 2nd overall position at the international Formula Student Czech races. The entire aeropacket, battery cooling, entire engine cooling system and power electronics underwent optimization. The weight of 205 kg allows the student formula to accelerate from 0 to 50 km / h on a track of 7.3 meters. From 0 to 100 km / h, the formula prides on acceleration of 2.97 seconds. All optimizations were aimed at increasing reliability of the formula and enabling it to use higher power at the 22 km main racing discipline of the endurance race than previous cars.
A self-supporting body and axles from the successful electric formula of the 2018 season were used for the self-steering monopost. Students for the autonomous formula car had to newly develop a system of sensors for the perception of the formula's surroundings, control and planning algorithms, as well as a system of actuators that can safely and completely control the formula.
In the future, the Formula Student competition plans to support the integration of autonomous systems into piloted formula cars. Some disciplines will have a point advantage for autonomously controlled cars. Despite the cancellation of all this year's races, students want to use the time spent to test new systems and prepare for international races in 2021.