Electronics
Purpose
The Electronics Subsystem is responsible for all vehicle-level electrical and software systems that support sensing, control, communications, and safety for the MUR Motorsports race car. This team focus is to deliver integrated solutions across hardware, firmware, and system-level software.
The Electronics Subsystem designs, implements, and integrates the car’s electrical infrastructure and software systems, including low voltage power, signal wiring, sensor interfacing, embedded software, control logic, and data communication. This includes safety-critical systems such as master shutdown logic, sensor networks, and human-machine interfaces.
Goals
| Primary Goals |
|---|
| Design and manufacture low voltage system |
| Ensure seamless integration of sensors and safety systems |
| Secondary Goals |
|---|
| Optimise sensor systems |
| Improve loom design and wiring efficiency |
Key Components
Sensor System
The beginning of Electronics subsystems are the sensor systems, as majority of our designs revolve around the type, number, and location of our sensors. The selection of sensors can range from hall effect sensors for breaks to crash sensors for our safety systems and will largely be dependent on what projects and rule considerations we have for our car year to year. At the beginning of each season, sensor’s will be selected and determined with input from other subsystems and system heads but will largely give members varying experience with designing signal processing of different sensor types in Spice simulations such as LTSpice or Tine-TI and designing printed circuit boards using programs such as Altium and will give experience with soldering prototypes of designed systems.
Loom
After Sensor types and their location on the car have been determined, the loom system can begin to be designed. The loom system is the wiring between the various electrical components within the car and runs along the chassis. The loom requires communication and planning from the structures sub team and the HV sub team. The design of the loom will give experience with different types of wiring and wiring connection types and designing loom systems in programs such as RapidHarness and will also give experience of CADing wires and electrical systems in programs such as Fusion360 and Solidworks.
Main Shutdown System (MSS)
The MSS is the shutdown system of the car for when a fault is detected and will be designed with the safety sensors in mind. According to Formula SAE-A rules cars cannot use software safety systems and must have a physical shutdown circuit. This means that as a part of Electronics systems we need to design and manufacture a logic circuit board that will shut down the tractive system of the car. This will involve input and collaboration with HV; and will give experience with PCB design in programs such as Altium, PCB manufacturing, and physical logic systems, potentially both digital and analogue.
Future Research Projects
Future research projects for the Low Voltage team in MUR Motorsports could focus on advancing the integration and efficiency of electrical systems. Some key areas include:
Advanced Sensor Integration: Research new types of sensors and more precise data acquisition systems to improve vehicle performance monitoring, such as tyre pressure sensors, advanced telemetry, or driver biometrics.
Wireless Communication Systems: Exploring the use of wireless communication between different electrical subsystems to reduce wiring complexity and weight, improving system reliability and ease of assembly.
Optimised Loom and Modular Wiring Solutions: Investigating modular or flexible wiring harness designs that allow for easier assembly, maintenance, and future upgrades, potentially reducing wiring weight and increasing system efficiency.
Low-Power Consumption Systems: Research ways to minimise power consumption across the low voltage systems, allowing for more efficient energy use and potentially extending the battery life during dynamic events.
Industry and Work Opportunities
The Electronics subsystem opens opportunities in industries like electric vehicles (EVs), automotive electronics, and embedded systems. Engineers with experience in sensor integration and wiring design are sought for roles in automotive control systems and vehicle safety systems with companies like Tesla and Rivian. Beyond automotive, opportunities exist in industrial automation, IoT, and consumer electronics. Key roles include Embedded Systems Engineer, Control Systems Engineer, and Electronics Design Engineer, with broader paths in systems integration and project management across tech-driven fields.
Manufacturing Exposure
| Manufacturing |
|---|
| PCB Creation |
| CNC Machining |
| Laser Cutting |
| Water Jet Cutting |
| 3D Printing |
| Soldering |
| PCB Manufacturing |