! LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Our work with National Instruments ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
22 January 2014
RACING TEAM
By Kieran Southward, David Pettit and Dr Christian Matthews
At Silverstone in July 2013, members of the LJMU racing team found time to talk to applications engineers at National Instruments (NI) about their future plans for developing an in-house engine control system for their Honda CBR600RR race engines. They discussed the possibility of using LJMU Racing’s NI CompactRIO platform for this application, and after some follow-up meetings NI agreed to support the project by donating a set of C-Series modules, specially developed by DRIVVEN for IC engine control.
The CompactRIO, with its combination of a high speed FPGA and real-time operating system, provides the ideal platform for performing high-speed engine synchronous control. The DRIVVEN modules, along with specially developed software mean that the team can focus upon developing the control system, rather than having to build the critical subsystems
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for crank synchronous timing from scratch. The hardware modules which have been provided by NI are designed to operate with standard automotive sensors and actuators. This means that driving actuators such as fuel injectors and spark coils is straightforward, requiring little or no additional power stage hardware. There is also support for essential sensors such as the variable reluctance (VR) pickups used to monitor crank and cam position, the universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor used to monitor air/fuel ratio and many other important analogue and digital sensors required to build a robust engine control strategy.
The student leading the project, Kieran Southward is taking the opportunity to combine his work in LJMU racing with his 3rd year engineering project. He said “This is an extremely exciting project to be involved with. Having the type of support NI
has given us has been outstanding, without the hardware and the technical support they have given us we wouldn’t have been able to even attempt such a project. With the use of the DRIVVEN modules we have been able to develop our engine control unit at a much faster rate than we had anticipated. We are thrilled that we are able to take on such a challenging project, and have the chance to work with some of National Instruments engineers.” The academic supervisor of the project, Dr Christian Matthews said “The support that NI have provided is extremely generous. It has enabled the team to begin development of their own IC engine control system and to realise results very quickly indeed. It offers our students with the opportunity to work with engineers from a global engineering company on a demanding technical problem with a practical application; projects don’t get much better than that.”
22 January 2014
Managers Voice
! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! We! visited TE ! Connectivity ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! By David Pettit
LJMU Racing Manager
got a better idea of what they did and available as well as learning about the how that in turn could help us.
Formula Student competition and
We are very proud to announce that undertaking a tensile test experiment. due to our visit and presentation TE
At the moment the team is well on Connectivity have agreed to sponsor target to be the most successful ever. LJMU Racing in the following years, We are progressing well with both the and are very interested in helping with build and the statics side of the the development of our electric car. competition. The team has successfully Thank you TE Connectivity. registered for FS UK and FS Spain which has added another level of motivation to the team as well as given us definite targets to work towards. In the next few weeks we are completing a lot of testing and validation of results to
We made it into the Echo!! By Stephanie Hines !
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2nd Year Mechanical
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We went on a first aid course! By Stephanie Hines!
help us build on what we learnt from With the help of the team at Liverpool 2nd Year Mechanical rd last years car and competitions. Whilst Students Union, on the 3 of December During our Christmas break 6 members testing new systems and ideas on track 2013 we shared our successes with the of LJMU Racing Team completed a First we will also use the time for driver readers of the Liverpool Echo. We Aid course. As well as the basic first aid training to give our drivers that ever grasped this opportunity to showcase topics, we covered the ones which we needed track time. I am really happy the great competition that Formula are most likely to occur whilst with the with our progression and the high level Student is and gave the readers an racing team, these included impaling, of dedication the team is showing insight into the team. Following the positive feedback the article received, cuts, burns and the variety of broken towards the project so far this year. the link with LSU is hopefully going to bones which someone may have. Some
By Morgan Marren-Arnull
!
continue as we get a regular team of the content was eye-opening, but it update on their website, with the could be a reality so it was important for opportunity to get more printed articles us to do it. Another reality covered was in the Echo.
3rd Year Mechanical
Head of Sponsorship LJMU Racing
On the 19th December a selection of the team gave a presentation to TE Connectivity at their head office in
people in our team and how to assist
Queen Elizabeth’s School came to visit!
them should they need it. One of the more fun aspects of the day was
By David Pettit!
putting each other into the recovery
!
position, which was made increasingly
LJMU Racing Manager
Swindon in the hope of gaining At the beginning of December a group sponsorship. After a warm welcome of 15 year 10 students from Queen with a buffet lunch, the team presented Elizabeth School came to visit LJMU. t o a p a n e l o f T E C o n n e c t i v i t y Whilst on this visit they had a tour of employees with an emphasis on the LJMU Racing Team’s facilities with the development plan for our electric car, opportunity to test our new state of the including our class 2 entry this year. art Motion Simulator. The students Before we left TE Connectivity we were learnt about all the different aspects of given a tour of their facilities, so that we university life and the courses that are
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allergies and medical requirements of
difficult as our ‘casualties’ were trying not to laugh.
This course was very
informative and useful and will apply to all situations in the team, be it at testing, in the workshop and labs, at competition or around the university campus.
22 January 2014
Say hello to our alumni member
me with acquiring this job at McLaren, but
for when I graduate I would have said
it has also allowed me to perform to a
McLaren every time, so would I do much
By Laurence Allmark!
high standard once getting there.
different if I had a second chance?
Working hard for four years with a small
Probably not.
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Graduate Dimensional Management Engineer, McLaren Automotive Ltd
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!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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group of highly dedicated individuals allowed me to develop every skill that employers ask for. During my time with LJMU Racing Team I developed as a team member from simply manufacturing parts using hand tools, to being one of several leading team members making critical decisions. I enjoyed the many opportunities to take a fresh idea all the
My role at McLaren Automotive as a
way from a design concept, through
Graduate Dimensional Management
manufacture, and finally assembly onto
Engineer is to optimise the dimensional
the car. Slowly developing a detailed
accuracy of our future road cars. It is
understanding of how an entire car
important for me to effectively
operates and how the systems integrate
communicate with design engineers,
with each other has helped me greatly
manufacturing engineers, parts suppliers
with the work I do today at McLaren.
and assembly technicians to gain an understanding of the entire car from a d e s i g n c o n c e p t r i g h t t h ro u g h t o production. This ensures continuous improvement and the majority of what we implement on future vehicles is as a result of information gathered from the cars we currently produce. I enjoy the role I have at McLaren as it allows me to work on all areas of the car both physically and virtually.
There were definitely times when I should have been revising or completing assignments instead of being in the workshop, but that was all my own doing. Overall I learned more from Formula Student than I did from my degree course and as much as I advise people not to let Formula Student come between them and their degree, I suppose I’m being hypocritical by saying so. Looking back now though I’m happy with how I
Getting a job is one thing, but performing
approached Formula Student; if you had
well when you get there is quite another.
asked me at any point during my degree
! !
Formula Student not only heavily assisted
to name one company I wished to work
We don’t like saying goodbye! By Morgan Marren-Arnull! 3rd Year Mechanical
!
Head of Sponsorship LJMU Racing
Saying goodbye is always hard, however it is even harder when you have to say goodbye to a dedicated supporter. At the end of January LJMU Racing will be saying goodbye to Professor Diane Meehan. As a team we owe a lot to Diane as she has not only helped us out with our budgets, she has also been very supportive in every aspect of the team including accompanying us to international competitions.
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So we would like to say a big thank you to Professor Diane Meehan for all she has done over the years, you will be missed by the team and we wish you well for the future. Come back and visit us some day!
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22 January 2014
We had an open day at Burnley UTC!
evening were Rolls Royce who set up in front of their quite impressive
What did I get out of Formula Student?!
By Rhian Griffith!
RR Trent and Chubb who set up a
By Zhivko Staynov!
2nd Year Mechanical
fun learning activity using rubber
Graduate Engineer, Aston Martin Lagonda
ducks and a web cam. Also Training 2000 attended who support the college
by
overseeing
apprenticeships and providing training. Overall for us and the college the evening was a success
!
and hopefully inspired more young people to follow careers in
The University Technical College in
engineering.
Burnley provides technical education
So what’s happening with the business?!
for 14 to 19 year olds, specialising in construction and engineering. Liverpool John Moores are one of the Universities who sponsor the
By Stephanie Hines!
!
2nd Year Mechanical
!
My involvement in the Formula Student (FS) project began in September 2008 when I started my Automotive Engineering degree course at Liverpool John Moores University. I joined the LJMU Racing
establishment which was opened
A key area of the Statics is the
Team at the very beginning of its
last year by the Visions Learning
Business Case; this is based around
foundation. Being actively involved
Trust. As a major asset to the school
a ‘Dragons Den’ style scenario at the
and consequently managing the
of engineering at our university the
competition where we must present
team for one competition season has
LJMU Racing Team attend the open
our business concept to judges who
undoubtedly helped me develop a
evenings held by the UTC. This
are acting as potential investors.
set of important skills.
month was our third visit to the Burnley college and I as a student and team member always enjoy attending these events. We exhibit our latest car, allow students, parents and staff to put in lap times on our simulator and drink a fair few brews. We also take components we have designed and manufactured in house with us so students and parents can see where a the path of engineering can take you. Graham Engineering LTD are also a sponsor of the UTC and one our our team's sponsors so it is always a bonus that we get to see and talk to the representatives of Graham. Other stands at the open
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To do well in the presentation it is very much a case of practice makes perfect, we need to be hot on our finance figures and have a slick presentation. Our sponsors can help greatly with this, as having an experienced industry member watch our practices and give feedback really helps improve on our content and our presenting skills. Even if we felt like it was a case of going back to square one sometimes, we are ever so grateful to our sponsors for the help they gave the Business team last year.
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Designing and building a race car within such a tight time frame is an extremely challenging task. I am certain that all five years I spent as part of the team have taught me how to be an efficient team player and have showed me the importance of team effort, however it has also showed me the importance of time management. FS allowed me to back up all the theoretical knowledge gathered during my engineering degree with an important practical experience whilst working on a real life project and doing something that I truly enjoy.
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22 January 2014
Being given the responsibility of
and my intention is to go on to
already gained a good
managing the LJMU Racing Team
study Mechanical Engineering.
I
understanding of Solid Works
for one competition season has so
joined the Formula Student Team
design program, and I am now
far been the most challenging and
within weeks of staring University.
learning how to use flow simulation
at the same time most rewarding
I had little experience in motor
within Solid Works to optimise my
experience in my life. In just over
sports apart from tinkering with my
diffuser design, along with the
365 days the project allowed me to
Go Karts at home. I had no
practical side of car maintenance.
i m p ro v e s i g n i fi c a n t l y o n m y
experience with the design
existing skills and revealed to
software, or the manufacturing
myself skills that I never suspected
techniques used to manufacture
to possess.
parts that is used at University.
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I am confident that in a great part I owe it to my FS experience that I now have a job in Britain’s most exclusive sports car company Aston Martin Lagonda. Last but not least, all of the FS events I took part in during the past five years are associated with great memories that will last a lifetime.
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Say hello to our team member!
their final year of study or doing a
members of the team who are
Masters, and also for the social
students in their 2nd and 3rd years
side and making fantastic friends.
of study. The purpose of the diffuser is to increase the aerodynamic down force on the car with minimal drag, allowing it to travel at faster velocity around corners to achieve a faster lap time. I have also been give the project
a digital model from the past years seat on Solid Works.
I am
designing it to be lower and further back in the car. Because of this I
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terms of the academic side, from
with the help and advice from other
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in Engineering and Technology
it has been incredibly valuable in
learning from students who are in
of redesigning the seat; by making
I am studying a Foundation degree
LJMU Formula Student Race Team
I am currently designing a diffuser,
By Huw Davies Cooke! Engineering Foundation
So far, by being a member of the
Would you be interested in working with us? ! !
! Contact Our Head Of Sponsorship:! M.Marren-Arnull@2011.ljmu.ac.uk!
! Find us on:! www.facebook.com/LJMURacing! twitter.com/LJMURacing!
! !
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Edited By: Morgan Marren-Arnull
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