The work at TU Wien Racing includes 14 modules that take on a wide variety of tasks relating to the racing car, the EDGE. However, the title of the respective module alone often does not say enough about what activities are being carried out in it. In this series, we are giving an overview of what the team members are working on and what the core competences of each module are.
Vehicle Dynamics and Data Analysis sounds a little abstract at first, but with the support of this module, the race car can drive even better. The members of the module work primarily with the programmes MATLAB and its extension Simulink, as well as with ChassisSim. They use these programmes to simulate the car and any changes made to it. Several systems such as launch control, traction control and yaw rate control are developed in MATLAB, and once they have been successfully tested within the software, they are transferred to the ECU (electronic control unit). This controls the electrical processes in the car and, among other things, forwards the signal from the accelerator pedal to the inverter and subsequently to the motors.
The individual motors of the EDGE can be specifically controlled by the ECU, enabling torque vectoring. This means that there is less torque on the inner motors in a corner, which improves the car's performance. Tyre temperature sensors, for example, are also used to determine the current grip of each tyre. The results of the work in the module show how small changes affect performance. It also provides an approach for the further development of next season's car. Simultaneously, the setup of the current race car can be improved.
Vehicle Dynamics and Data Analysis is also responsible for the data produced by the car. Each drive generates a large amount of data, which is made available to all members. A dedicated tool in Python has been set up for this purpose to ensure that the data is passed on automatically. This data and the resulting analyses form the basis for the further development of the car. Our focus here is on a data-driven approach for all modules. Specifically, this means that all modules are given an overview of all the processed data they need to make informed decisions about the current race car and the car for the next season.
Another important task of the module is organising testing days. The members of the module determine which components of the car are to be focussed on during the test drive, what equipment is required and which members will help out on the respective test day.