The University of Wisconsin Formula SAE team competes against over 130 universities from around the world in an annual competition held at Michigan International Speedway. The competition is based on the design and manufacture of a small scale open-wheel, open-cockpit racecar. Teams are usually comprised of engineering students who, in the fall semester, design the car using Computer-Aided-Design programs and, in the spring semester, manufacture these designs to create a competition ready vehicle. In 2007, Wisconsin Racing took 1st Place at the international competition and in 2008 came away with 4th Place and the top United States team. The team also competes at Virginia International Raceway where, in 2008, the team took home 1st Place at the inaugural competition.
In 2009, the team made a drastic switch from a four cylinder Suzuki GSXR600 motorcycle engine to a single cylinder KTM 525. The main reason for the change was a new rule which made fuel economy worth double the points it was previously. This change also brought about the implementation of a turbocharger. The team uses an IHI turbocharger to increase the vehicle’s performance. Unfortunately, this was a major change made by the team and the vehicle failed to finish the endurance event due to an engine failure. The team was on pace to a top 10 finish, but with the engine failure, dropped all the
way to 35th. The 2010 car has focused on increasing the performance while maintaining reliability so that another engine failure does not occur.
Two important aspects of the vehicle are the control strategies used and data acquisition analysis.
One way the team incorporates both of these is with the use of Hall effect proximity sensors (AutomationDirect part number PY4-AN-3A), used as
wheel speed sensors by sensing an encoder wheel located within the upright assembly.
One important use of wheel-speed sensors is for the traction control system. Traction control is a useful system which reduces the torque output of the engine in the
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