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Getting Started
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Design Gallery
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Overview |
Participating the F1 in Schools is easy.
This page will guide you through the processes of preparing, building and racing
your F1 model cars:
1. Team Formation
2. Research
3. Design and Refinements
4. Manufacture
5. Finishing and Touching Up
6. Preliminary Race and Wind Tunnel Test
7. Booth Decorations
8. Race
9. Supporters
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Team Formation
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Form a team with your schoolmates to take part in the F1 in Schools challenge. The team can comprise members taking on the roles of:
- Team Leader
- Design Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Graphics Designer
- Marketing Manager
- Racer
Come out with a team name and identity that best describe the esprit de corps of the members.
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| Research |
Before
embarking on the design, team mebers need to understand the physics and
engineering principles, tools and software available that will make the
split second difference in this competition.
Find out more about F1 in Schools, F1 car design, Newton's Laws on forces, aerodynamics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), etc., via online resources like:
Formulate a marketing plan and strategy to win over sponsors for their support in terms of cash or kinds.
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Design and Refinements
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The F1 model cars are propelled by compressed CO2 gas. To reach the finish line in the shortest time, the car should inherit the least amount of resistances forces. Resistance forces can come from:
- Inertia (mass)
- Aerodynamic drag (air resistance)
- Frictional resistances (surface, wheel rolling resistance, friction between moving parts like shaft, bearings, etc.)
Some strategies to engage are:
- The initial acceleration and speed attainable during launch depend on the inertia or mass of the car. Shed away unnecessary materials, so that the weight of the total car is
close to the minimum imposed by the rules. Compromise have
to be made between performance and aesthetics.
- As the car travel through the length of the track, the aerodynamic drag
and frictional resistances slow down the car (Newton's 1st Law). Keep the car shape streamlined -- air flow across the body and wheels should be as laminar as possible.
- Bearings can help to reduce the rotational friction when the wheels are
spinning. Check your local hardware or online stores for the most
efficient bearings and incorporate them into the design, where the
rules allow.
- Design your F1 model car using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) software,
e.g. Pro/Engineer, Pro/Desktop, SolidWorks, Inventor etc. This allows quick changes to the design parameters. Bear in mind that the shape of the car must be machinable. Features like internal
cavities, thin wall and undercuts should be avoided.
- Verify your
design against the requirements in the competition rules and
specifications, e.g. critical dimensions and minimum weight.
- Evolve and refine the design with new parameters or shapes until the
most optimal result is obtained. The use of analysis software, like computational fluid dynamics, will be most beneficial for this process.
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Manufacture
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If you have access to the services of manufacturing centers, you can turn your CAD models into physical models quickly and accurately.
Computer numerical control (CNC) machines traces the profiles of the CAD models to generate the cutter paths. These paths will include roughing and finishing operations.
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Finishing and Touching Up
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The machining processes will produce rough
surfaces on the model. Apply putty and sand the surfaces to
reduce the surface drag. Well-applied coats of paint and varnish will give your car good looks and also reduce surface drag.
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Preliminary Race and Wind Tunnel Test
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Your team or school might have a few cars. Go through a preliminary race to pick the fastest:
- Check the weight and dimensions of the cars, to ensure they meet the technical specifications.
- Measure the aerodynamic drag with a wind tunnel.
- Race the cars! Automatic triggering can be used to eliminate the human factor.
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Booth Decorations
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Design and prepare posters and decorations for your booth. Good theme, striking visuals and prominent team identity will boost the marks in this category. Judges will be also looking out for elements of sponsorships. Pitch your marketing skills to convince the panel of judges of your designs.
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Race
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Register your team and car on the day of the Finals. Caging of car will be done by race officials to ensure the car is within technical specifications.
Wait for your Racer to take centre stage. Racers must observe the lights on the lights signals and only trigger after all the lights are extinguished; else it is considered a false start. Remain focus and calm. Enjoy the adrenalin rush to the finish line!
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Supporters
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Don't forget to rally your friends to cheer for you. Their cheers will boost the morale of the team and electrify the event venue.
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