MAD Formula Team: Advancing Electronics and Reliability in the MFT05

A TEAM OF CONSTANT EVOLUTION

MAD Formula Team was founded in 2011 at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with a clear ambition: to design, build and compete in Formula Student, the world's leading university engineering competition. Since then, generation after generation of students have shaped the project, establishing the team as a benchmark in the combustion category. The constant transfer of knowledge has allowed each season to increase the technical level further.

For the 2024–2025 season we are developing the MFT05, our fifth single-seater. Building on the foundations of the MFT04, it will maintain the same chassis geometry while introducing significant improvements in cooling, electronics, and the powertrain.

OUR GENERAL GOALS FOR THE SEASON

For this season, we have set ourselves a clear goal: increasing the reliability of the car. We want every component, every system, and every detail of the vehicle to be optimized not only for maximum performance, but also to ensure that the car can complete all the dynamic events without issues.

The experience of previous years has taught us that consistency is just as important as speed. That is why we see reliability not as an end in itself, but as the foundation on which to build solid results.

Our second major goal is for this reliability to be reflected in the overall performance of the team: finishing all the dynamic events and, together with strong results in the static events, positioning ourselves among the teams capable of competing for the overall podiums.

In short, we want to take a step forward as a team, demonstrating not only technical ability, but also maturity and consistency in competition.

ELECTRONICS: THE CAR'S NERVOUS SYSTEM

In a Formula Student car, electronics are not a secondary feature but the nervous system that connects and regulates every critical component. The racing environment is unforgiving, with constant vibrations, mechanical shocks, sudden current peaks and rapid temperature changes.

Reliability under these conditions is essential. A single electronic failure can end a race instantly. For this reason, the most critical boards of the MFT05 are being manufactured by Eurocircuits. Their precision and the robustness of their PCBs give us the confidence that our electrical system will perform flawlessly throughout the season.

OUR FIRST PCB FROM EUROCIRCUITS

The first board we received from Eurocircuits for the MFT05 is the Power Distribution Module (PDM). This PCB represents a major step forward in the way we manage the car's electrical system.

The PDM functions as the central hub for energy management, distributing power from the battery to sensors and actuators.

Designed after extensive testing and data validation, it provides everything required to reinforce the vehicle's electronics.

It operates with high-power relays that allow rapid control of power outputs. Through microcontroller supervision and CAN communication, it always ensures precise awareness of the system's status.

Each circuit is safeguarded by carefully rated fuses, which act as a critical layer of protection by isolating faults, preventing damage to components, and ensuring the overall safety of the electrical system. In addition, it monitors voltage and current on every channel in real time, enabling fast diagnostics and enhancing telemetry capabilities.

OTHER BOARDS MANUFACTURED WITH EUROCIRCUITS

In addition to the PDM, we also manufactured two key boards with Eurocircuits:

Brake System Plausibility Device (BSPD): A mandatory safety board that cuts power if throttle and brake are pressed simultaneously, ensuring driver protection and full competition compliance.
Gear Shift Controller: A sequential shift controller that powers the electric actuator through an H-bridge, enabling fast, precise and smooth gear changes while reducing wear on the gearbox.

CONCLUSION

The MFT05's performance is not only the result of its chassis or its powertrain. Electronics are playing a decisive role in making the car reliable, safe and consistent in competition. The boards manufactured by Eurocircuits are providing the robustness needed to perform in an environment where there is no margin for error.

In Formula Student, every detail matters. Having electronics capable of withstanding extreme conditions can be the difference between crossing the finish line and never making it out of the pits.

For more information please visit the MAD Formula Team website.

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