Formula Imperial is an Indian Formula Student Engineering Design Competition in which students from engineering institutes and universities all over the country, compete with a life-size formula-style vehicle in areas of engineering design, overall cost, marketability and dynamic performance. It is India’s first Formula Student Hybrid and Electric Category event started in 2015.
The aim of the competition is to provide platform to students for gaining the hands-on practical experience, while applying engineering theories studied in the classroom. In addition, students learn the art of management and teamwork, which are essential skills required in the ‘real-world’. These student teams are required to build a new vehicle from scratch year-after-year and seek sponsorship and donations by their own means to fund the project.
Formula Imperial takes place every year at Indian F1 Buddh International Circuit and till date 450+ engineering institutes with 650+ teams participated in the event.
The challenge to the student team is to design and fabricate a prototype vehicle that best meets the goals and intents as stated per the Rules Book. Over the course of a five day competition, a jury of experts from the motorsport, automotive and supplier industries judge the design, cost and business planning of all the teams to determine the best team and vehicle; in addition the team’s on-track performance scores will demonstrate how well they hold up under real life conditions.
The Formula Imperial competition is divided into 3 categories – Pre Virtual, Static and Dynamic.
Online/On Campus Mentorship – Teams are required to attend workshop in which the technical committe members of the event demonstatet the importance of rules, about the vehicle desing and dynamics and overall vehicle concept followed by the rulebook test. The workshop also gives overview on all the event rounds evaluations, reports, Technical Inspections, enhancement of track time and college level TI, etc.
Rulebook Test – The purpose of the rulebook test is to give overall understanding of all the rules and apply best engineering skills to design the vehicle as per the rules.
Static Round
Engineering Design: The concept of the design event is to evaluate the student’s engineering process and effort that went into the design of a vehicle, meeting the intent of the competition. Prior to the event, teams are required to submit an engineering design report and a design specifications sheet for evaluation. At the competition, vehicles must be presented for design judging in finished condition, fully assembled, complete and ready-to-race. The judges will not evaluate any vehicle that is presented at the design event in what they consider to be an unfinished state and will award zero points for the entire design event.
Cost and Manufacturing: The objective of the cost and manufacturing event is to evaluate the team’s understanding of the manufacturing processes and costs associated with the construction of a prototype race car. This includes trade off decisions between content and cost, make or buy decisions and understanding the differences between prototype and mass production. Prior to the event, teams are required to submit a Cost Report with a detailed Bill of Materials and supporting documentation. At the competition, vehicles must be presented for cost and manufacturing judging in finished condition, fully assembled, complete, ready-to-race and with its dry tires mounted. The judges will not evaluate any vehicle that is presented at the cost and manufacturing event, in what they consider to be an unfinished state and will award zero points for the entire event.
Business Plan: The objective of the BPP is to evaluate the team’s ability to develop and deliver a comprehensive business model which demonstrates their product – a prototype race car – could become a rewarding business opportunity. The judges should be treated as if they were potential investors or partners for the presented business model. The business plan must relate to the specific prototype race car entered in the competition. The quality of the actual prototype will not be considered as part of the BPP judging. To convince the potential investors or partners that the team’s presentation is worthy of their time, it is required that an executive summary is submitted before the competition. The executive summary should contain a brief description of the team’s business plan.
Dynamic Round
Skid Pad: The skidpad course consists of two pairs of concentric circles in a figure of eight pattern. Each team has four runs, driven by two drivers with two runs each. Each driver has the option to make a second run immediately after their first run.
Acceleration: The acceleration course is a straight line with a length of 75 m from starting line to finish line. Each team has four runs, driven by two drivers with two runs each. Each driver has the option to make a second run immediately after their first run.
Autocross: The autocross track layout is a handling course built to contains straights, constant turns, hairpins, slaloms, chicanes etc. The length of the autocross track is less than 1.5 km. Each team has up to four runs, driven by two drivers with two runs each. Each driver has the option to make a second run immediately after their first run.
Endurance: The endurance track is a closed lap circuit built similarly to an autocross track. The length of one lap of the endurance track is approximately 3 km. The length of the complete endurance is approximately 36 km. There is only one run for the endurance event. The starting order of the endurance event is determined by the finishing time in the autocross event. A driver change must be made during a three minute period at the midpoint of the run. The first driver will drive for 18 km and will then be signaled into the driver change area. Each team is given three minutes to change their driver. If the driver change takes longer than three minutes, the extra time is included in the final time. After the driver change, the second driver will drive for an additional 16 km and will be signaled to exit the track after crossing the finish line. Multiple cars may be on the endurance track at the same time. Overtaking is only permissible in the designated passing zones and under the control of the track marshals. Wheel-to-wheel racing is prohibited.
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