Formula Electric Belgium: Pioneering the Future of Sustainable Racing
At Formula Electric Belgium, we are a team of passionate engineering students united by one goal: to design and build a fully electric Formula Student race car capable of competing at the highest levels. This year, a team of over 90 members from various disciplines combine cutting-edge technology with teamwork and innovation to push the boundaries of what's possible in sustainable racing.
Recap
Over the past year, while building TMC Comet, our team reached a groundbreaking milestone by developing the first hybrid driverless/manual race car. Thanks to extensive testing and dedicated efforts of the team, we became the first Belgian Formula Student team to successfully complete a driverless event at a competition – achieving this at Formula Student Germany (FSG), one of the most prestigious Formula Student competitions in the world.
Our Goals for This Year
This year, we are committed to increasing our testing efforts ahead of the competition. By dedicating more time to testing, we aim to fine-tune every detail and boost our competitive edge. Our ultimate goal is a top-five finish in one of the upcoming events, and with an accelerated production timeline, we are working hard to present a fully driveable car at our roll-out event.
As we step into the rapidly evolving world of autonomous driving, we are also working to refine and test our driverless algorithms, ensuring our car performs seamlessly in both manual and driverless configurations.
A Closer Look at Our PCB Innovations
The heart of our car's electronics lies in its Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), which play a crucial role in ensuring the vehicle's safety and performance. Two critical PCBs, manufactured by our trusted and long-standing partner Eurocircuits, are the Brake System Plausibility Device (BSPD) and the Battery Management System (BMS) PCBs.
Eurocircuits has been an invaluable partner in helping us meet the high standards of quality and reliability required for our race car's electronics, enabling us to push the boundaries of innovation year after year.
Brake System Plausibility Device (BSPD)
The BSPD is a safety-critical component required by Formula Student regulations. It continuously monitors the braking system and ensures that the brakes are applied properly in critical scenarios. If it detects any inconsistency between the throttle and brake – for example, if the throttle signals remains engaged while the brakes are applied – the BSPD immediately opens the shutdown circuit.
This year's BSPD features a more compact design with improved signal processing capabilities, reducing its size and weight while enhancing its reliability. With safety being a top priority, we've extensively tested the PCB to ensure it performs flawlessly under all conditions.
Battery Management System (BMS) PCB
The Battery Management System PCB is the brain of our battery pack. Its primary purpose is to monitor and manage the health of the individual battery cells, ensuring they operate within safe temperature and voltage ranges. The BMS protects the battery pack from overcharging, over-discharging, and overheating, all while balancing the cells to maximize performance and extend their lifespan.
Our BMS PCB for this year's car incorporates advanced sensing and the new design allows for faster and more efficient communication with the battery modules and the rest of the car's systems
For more information please visit the Formula Electric Belgium website.
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