History
The competition launched in the states in 1981, in whose previous year the states was beaten by Japan in terms of the number of manufactured cars. The states started this competition, in which students make a formula racing car and compete with each other, out of worries about weakening of the whole manufacturing industry.
Four vehicles. Nine vehicles. The competition has grown dramatically from the very small scale, and now that more than 140 universities take part in the competition, so it has been devided into two competition, West and East. The competition started in England (1998-), Australia (2000-), Japan (2003- ), Italy, Germany and Brazil, and the International Formula Series has started.
Why has it become such a big competition? What attracts people? The answer is not only one, but this can be the biggest one: Teams themselves and the total process of manufacturing are judged as well as vehicles they made.
Japan Competition
No less that 20 years have passed since then. The first Formula SAE Competition Japan was held by JSAE in September, 2003, in which 17 teams were involved. It has grown to become a big competition with more than 50 teams by 2006. It must keep growing and spreading over land. We are to participate in the competition for years to come, and experiences we can have in this activity should be invaluable through our lives.
More details can be found on the official Formula JSAE website >> http://www.jsae.or.jp/formula/
According to the organizer, JSAE, there are three main visions in the competition: 1. Training of engineers, 2. Inspiring activities of JSAE with leadership, 3. Industory-university cooperation.
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Outline of the events
Japan competition is held annually at Ecopa (in Sizuoka Pref.) in September. We compete not only how fast our vehicles can run, but also our engineering senses. There are 4 dinamic events and 3 static events.
| Cost Event | How much effort we have paid to reduce the cost required to constructiong a vehicle including personnel cost. |
| Design Event | How fine our designing process and each detailed design are. |
| Presentation Event | Presentation of our own vehicle to sell. |
| Acceleration | Acceleration performance of 0-75m. |
| Skidpad | Cornering performance. |
| Autocross | Time trial of 1-kilometer course. |
| Endurance + Fuel Economy | Time trial of 22-kilometer course and measurement of fuel consumption. |
Detail description
★ Cost event
Cost event is comprised of 4 parts.
At first, Cost Report.
This is to be sent to the Cost Judges prior to the competition.
Cost Report includes bill of each part’s material, manufacturing process,
and drawings.
We made drawings of perfectly all parts, and the report was over 300 pages
in 2007, 2008 competition.
Second, Vehicle Cost.
Our machine costs nearly 3 million yen, even if it includes aluminum frame
and carbon fairing, it is so expensive, or racing car costs like this.
Third, Discussion with Cost Judges.
This evaluates team’s ability to prepare accurate engineering and manufacturing
cost estimates.
It’s all right if you think about vehicle cost accuracy, but you become
flounder at the event if you don't think about that.
Let it be fully prepared.
At last, “real case” scenario.
It will start from 2009 competition.
The rule book says that “students will have to respond to a challenge related to cost or manufacturing of the student vehicle.”
Details is not known well now, please wait for 2009 competition!
★ Design event
This event is about the design of vehicle.
Judge is done with design report, presented before event day.
Design report includes 8 papers; 4papers of document, 3papers of drawing,
and a paper of charts or pictures.
Report shows what we think to design the machine, and how verify it, under a consistent design concept.
Judges ask team on the event day.
Especially, how appreciate machine with experiments or analysis is important
point.
Teams of higher than 6th prize can participate in design final.
KART competes in design final in 2008 competition with Yj-R06!
The score of this event is 0-150.
★ Design event
Teams are assumed to be formula machine planning team in a corporation, and judges is treated as they’re executive of the corporation.
Criterions for examination are a background and intention of the plan,
appeal point of vehicle, marketing strategy, and earnings forecast.
Some team take mock-up or real parts to appeal their vehicle.
Sometimes important point may be marketing strategy, or other time it may be vehicle concept.
We’re requested to have flexible and impromptu manner.
The point is 0-75.
Sorry! Will be updated soon...
