0-100 in 0.9 Seconds, Built by Students

Summary

Students from the Swiss university AMZ Racing broke the world record for 0-60 mph acceleration, hitting it in just 0.956 seconds. To achieve this, they started with a Formula Student base car and modified it extensively - doubling the power with custom motors, adding fans underneath to generate huge downforce, and implementing active torque vectoring. This combination allowed them to accelerate over twice as quickly as an F1 car by maximizing grip and powertrain strength. Though further improvements were possible, they stopped at 0.956 seconds due to budget and time constraints.

Takeaways

• 🚗 AMZ Racing from ETH Zurich set a new world acceleration record, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in under 1 second, surpassing the previous record of 1.46 seconds.
• 🖥 The project utilized the base of a Formula Student car, chosen for its light weight, small frontal area, and availability, but heavily modified to withstand the unique demands of extreme acceleration.
• 💧 Innovative use of fan-assisted downforce significantly increased grip by creating low pressure under the car, a method unrestricted by traditional racing regulations.
• 📈 The team's engineering approach focused on three core areas: increasing power, enhancing grip through aerodynamics, and reinforcing the vehicle's structural integrity.
• 🛤️ The suspension system was specifically designed to maintain optimal downforce by keeping the car's floor aligned with the ground, using a hydraulically connected suspension.
• 🛠 Each wheel was powered by its own motor, allowing precise control over torque distribution, critical for managing the car's extreme acceleration.
• 💡 Exploiting a loophole in the rules, the team chose to run the record attempt uphill, requiring only one attempt instead of averaging two runs in opposite directions.
• 💪 Despite the potential for even greater acceleration, the project's ambitions were limited by the structural integrity of the chassis and the practicalities of cost and time.
• 📱 Partnership with Brilliant.org highlights the educational aspect of the project, emphasizing the learning opportunities in complex engineering concepts through interactive courses.
• 💻 The success of AMZ Racing illustrates the importance of interdisciplinary skills in engineering, teamwork, and project management, preparing students for future careers in high-performance industries like Formula 1.

Q & A

What was the previous world record for 0-60 mph acceleration that AMZ Racing aimed to break?

The previous world record was 1.46 seconds, held by the University of Stuttgart.

How did AMZ Racing generate more downforce for better grip?

They used fans mounted under the floor to create an area of low pressure that sucked the car into the ground. They also used carbon fiber skirts around the sides to seal the floor.

Why did AMZ Racing need a special suspension system?

They needed a suspension system that was stiff enough to maintain the car's attitude and floor height under acceleration, but compliant enough to absorb vibrations.

What was innovative about the powertrain design?

It used 4 separate in-wheel motors, one powering each wheel independently. This allowed precise torque vectoring.

How did the control system maximize traction at launch?

It measured wheel speeds and slip values to dynamically control the torque to each wheel, reducing wheelspin.

Why did AMZ Racing run the car uphill slightly?

The rules stated only 1 run was needed uphill, rather than 2 runs on flat ground. This reduced variability.

What were the 3 main focus areas for the car?

Having enough power, generating enough downforce and grip, and ensuring the chassis was strong enough.

How was AMZ Racing able to break the 1 second barrier?

Through extensive engineering and innovation in aerodynamics, powertrain, and vehicle dynamics.

What was the final record time achieved by AMZ Racing?

0.956 seconds from 0-62 mph, over 30% faster than the previous record.

What limited AMZ Racing from going even faster?

The structural integrity of the chassis. More power or downforce would have caused it to break.