A NEW KIND OF SPEED
Official f1 in schools team 2023
The competition
Formula 1 in Schools is an international STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) challenge for students aged 11 to 19. In teams of three to six, students can design and build a miniature Formula 1 car using CAD/CAM software. These miniature race cars compete against those of other teams, trying to cover a distance of 20 meters as fast as possible. Their speed is measured by a computer from the start until they cross the finish line, which is up to 100 kilometers per hour.
The cars have to comply with extensive regulations, just like in real Formula 1. The F1 Virtual Wind Tunnel software was developed specifically for this challenge. To test our race car, we use the CFD software F1 Virtual Wind Tunnel (F1 VWT). CFD stands for computational fluid dynamics and simulates the airflow and the resulting drag that slows down the car.
In addition to the STEM competition, the students also have to show their in other areas, such as marketing. Formula 1 at school is time, cost and resource intensive. You have to stick to a schedule that doesn’t tolerate delays because of the huge competition. In addition, sponsors must be sought to finance the project or support the teams with materials and/or services. Through the competition, students not only learn a lot about engineering, but also about marketing and management. They have to learn how to approach companies and present themselves to them. It is important to compromise but also to be honest and relentless as a team in order to reach constructive results. The teams have to realize what it means to be a team and to act as one. The competition helps the participants a lot through the challenges in their later, professional lives.
First held in England in 1999, the competition now involves teams from over 40 countries. The goal is to introduce students worldwide to engineering in a fun way. Regional and national finals are held annually, and the winners are invited to the international finals. This usually takes place parallel to a Formula 1 Grand Prix in cities such as Singapore or Melbourne.
Our team
Who are we actually?
We are a group consisting of 5 people participating in the project “F1 in Schools“. We come from the Gymnasium Grootmoor in beautiful Hamburg, Germany. Our team is made up of 5 subjects, each of which has been assigned to one and you can check them out now.
Ferdinand Paulsen
As a team manager, my main task is, of course, team management. I am responsible for the task allocation and ensure that all tasks are completed according to schedule in good quality. I also help out in all sorts of areas, such as construction.
I also keep in touch with most of the sponsors and supporters. Contact here
Caterina Wittich
I am primarily responsible for the printing and milling processes. I find out which manufacturing process is best for us. I have to work very closely with the group’s design engineer and resource manager.
Since I work a lot with the design engineer and with the resource manager, I am secondarily responsible for those categories as well.
Moritz Bauernschmitt
As a resource manager, I am responsible for ensuring that there is always enough material for the respective production processes. On the one hand, I have to work a lot with the manager, but on the other hand I also cooperate a lot with the production manager and the constructor.
Since I work a lot with the production manager and with the design engineer, I am secondarily responsible for those categories as well.
Tamino Karsten
I am the person in the team who deals with the 3d design software the most. I am responsible for making sure that the car is the most aerodynamic and the best at the end of the competition preparation. I work a lot with the production manager and with the resource manager.
Because of my many interactions with the production manager and resource manager, I am secondarily apart for this category as well.
I am also responsible for the team website, working a lot with the graphic designer.
Jonas Stoyke
As I am the most creative person in our team, my task is the graphic design. This is very extensive, which is why I am only assigned to this one task. On the one hand I design the car (not the shape, but the color) and on the other hand the team box. But I am also responsible for the design of the website.
Our sponsors
The F1 in schools not only costs a lot of time, but also money. Of course it costs money to mill and print the car. But even the materials for the team stand, for example, are not free.
Bauhaus is the place to go when it comes to crafts and technology. For us, too, Bauhaus was the first point of contact for our team stand and other things. In addition to the materials for the team stand, Bauhaus also supports us with the paints and varnishes for the car.
The Scharlau GmbH is a medium-sized company, not only specialised in data management and advertising technology, but also for paper printing and design. This is also the area in which Scharlau GmbH supports us, because Scharlau takes over the printing of the portfolios as well as the flyers for us.
The Gymnasium Grootmoor is our school. Among other things, it is committed to sustainable causes, just as we are. Without our school, participation in the competition would not even be possible. We also mill and print our car here.
The car
The most important thing about the team is, of course, the car. On the one hand, it has to be particularly aerodynamic, of course, and on the other hand, minimum weight is also the hallmark of a good vehicle. In addition, you have to comply with a twenty-page set of technical rules in order not to get points deducted. The manufacturing process also plays a major role in the whole thing.
The most popular methods are milling and 3D printing. Of course, these both have advantages and disadvantages. For example, the weight, the surface structure and much more varies. For example, 3D printing creates cavities, which are very good for the weight, but not necessarily for the stability. A well-known solution for this is to print struts in the cavities, which of course keeps the weight low, but increases the stability. The disadvantage of this, however, is that the struts are often not evenly distributed, which means that the center of gravity is not in the middle of the vehicle and the car can therefore not drive very stably in a straight line.
Aerodynamics is a very important factor in the competition. The Cd (drag coefficient) value can be used to compare the aerodynamics of any object. A low drag coefficient indicates good aerodynamics. This coefficient is composed of the total drag force of the car, the frontal projection area, the density of the fluid and the speed of the fluid. The car is designed in Siemens’ SolidEdge software, where it is also optimized. As a virtual wind tunnel we use the add-in software FloEFD, also from Siemens, with which the drag coefficient can be calculated.
Aerodynamics is a very important factor in the competition. The Cd value can be used to compare the aerodynamics of any object. A low drag coefficient indicates good aerodynamics. This coefficient is composed of the total drag force of the car, the frontal projection area, the density of the fluid and the speed of the fluid. The car is designed in Siemens’ SolidEdge software, where it is also optimized. As a virtual wind tunnel we use the add-in software FloEFD, also from Siemens, with which the drag coefficient can be calculated.
The aerodynamics of the vehicle can also be displayed graphically, which allows the streamline shape to be clarified; turbulence that slows down the vehicle can be easily identified here.
Our machinery has already developed a lot and will continue to develop, on the one hand of course through a better drag coefficient, and on the other hand of course through better knowledge of the 3D CAD software.
The Teamphilosophy
VelocityBlue – a new kind of speed
Our name is composed of several suggestions, including “ProjectVelocity” and “BlueDot”. These include aspects that are very important to us. “Velocity” stands for speed and the associated Formula 1. The “Blue” symbolizes the earth and stands for the environment and a clean atmosphere. This results in the name “VelocityBlue“.
Our motto is “a new kind of speed“. Like the name, it includes competitive as well as environmental aspects. The speed stands for Formula 1 and the “new kind” for a more environmentally friendly and improved implementation of the competitive conditions. It motivates us to higher performance and to reach our goals to create and present something new. Even though our “Blue Speed” is not a new drive or anything like that, it symbolizes what is important to us for Formula 1 at school: To win!
Newest from us
November, 24th 2022
Now it’s official… We made it through the competitions at our school and are now officially participating in the Hamburg Championships on February 17 and 18, 2023. Until then we will keep you updated and will optimize our car as best as possible.
Your team VelocityBlue
October, 3rd 2022
Today we made good use of the German Unity Day, which was a day off from school. After we revised the website, we came up with a team motto. This success was duly celebrated with pizza. We also decided on a basic structure for the car.
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