For a number of years there has been interest with a number of the students in participating in the Formula SAE competition.  This has generally been considered to be too costly for the department and too large of a project for the size of the department.  However, as the enrollment has increased and several new engine designs have been successful in the competition and opportunity has arisen for UMaine to participate in the Formula SAE.  The proposed engine development platform is the first step in a new effort by the department to expand the project efforts to include Formula SAE.

This project will develop a new engine for use in the Formulae SAE.  It is important from a competition standpoint as well as an educational standpoint that we employ a design philosophy.  After some discussion with winning teams and observers of the competition, we have decided that a light fast car is more interesting and challenging that one of the larger heavier vehicles and better represents where racing and automotive design is headed.  This project starts with the availability of curriculum fee money, $5800 for a crate engine and $2650 for two engine controllers.  This money has to be shared to a certain extent and cannot be spent without clear technical justification for the decision.  However, the team will be making decisions that will impact the project for years to come.  One engine to consider is:

If the team decides to work hard and race a car, that is their concern.  The design project is focused on the development of a engine with engine controls which will be critical to the overall efforts with the car.