Electric Powertrain (eTrain)

eTrain is a mechanical team that focuses on the packaging of major electrical components on the car. While Electronics focuses on the design of complex circuits for our car’s custom PCBs, eTrain manufactures high and low voltage batteries, as well as enclosures for the inverters and other portions of the electrical system. Members receive a project and are provided with top level goals and requirements, after which they will design, manufacture, and integrate into the rest of the car.

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Some characteristics we look for on eTrain:

• Familiarity with SOLIDWORKS or other CAD software
• Knowledge of basic mechanical engineering concepts (relevant courses would be PHYS 121, AA 210, CEE 220)
• Creative and able to come up with multiple solutions to problems, as well as iterate upon previous designs
• Motivated individual, able to take initiative to learn new concepts and skills

Driverless (Controls)

The Driverless subteam at UW Formula Motorsports is excited to announce that we are seeking multiple new members to develop a controls system for our car. This position offers you a high-impact role on a critical project, where you can bring an autonomous racecar to life. Given a car trajectory provided through a path planning algorithm, there arises a need for a feedback system to ensure that the car follows this desired path. Successful teams such as ETH Zurich have implemented extensions of the nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MPC) formulation which maximizes the progress along a given reference path while respecting the vehicle model and track constraints for the second-lap and onwards. While our goal is to match or exceed their performance before we compete in the following summer, we have a tight timeline to perform test drives before then. This necessitates rapid implementation of simpler algorithms, such as PID or pure-pursuit. In addition to frequent testing on simulations and adjusting to integrate with the rest of the DL software pipeline, it’s critical to be present at test-drives to learn about the operations, performance, and dynamics of the car.

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Responsibilities:

• Implement a basic control algorithm (PID, Pure Pursuit, or similar) for prototype system testing, which is robust enough for low-speed first-lap mapping at competition
• Research and develop an MPC controller for lap-time critical racing, taking into account vehicle dynamics
• Work in a self-lead environment, where you need to take responsibility and initiative for your own project (though the team is always willing to help as necessary)
• Be able and willing to commit 20+ hours a week (a strict requirement for all team members)

Qualifications:

• A good understanding of Python, or primary language across the software stack
• Solid understanding of at least one of the controllers mentioned above (PID, Pure Pursuit, MPC), ideally with experience in implementation
• Strong communications skills, ability to collaborate with others, strong passion to learn, and good vibes

Electronics 

Electronics designs and assembles the various printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrates the low voltage systems throughout the vehicle. Projects include sensor data acquisition, driver interface systems, power distribution, and wiring to integrate all the electronic subsystems. Working with electric powertrain and software continuously throughout the year, there is a large emphasis on producing a reliable vehicle that can consistently run as expected. This involves heavy debugging sessions, reviewing wiring, and other testing. Electronics team members are expected to attend debugging sessions and drives whenever possible. New members are also expected to do substantial onboarding over the summer if added to the team before Fall 2024.

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Role: General electronics engineers

Note: Looking for multiple engineers to fill this specific role.

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Required qualifications: 

• ECE major or ENGRUD admitted into ECE.
• Willing to commit 20+ hours per week minimum
• Required/intended coursework: PHYS 121, MATH 124-126, EE 215, PHYS 122. 
• Good time management and excels in communication.
• Disciplined and detail oriented 

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with circuit design and analysis.
• Experience using design PCBs in KiCAD or Altium.
• Experience debugging PCBs.
• Experience using lab equipment and tools: Multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc.
• Prior involvement in an engineering RSO.
• Understanding of EV architecture.

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Role: Power electronics engineer for a custom traction inverter.

Requirements:

• 3rd or 4th year (or master’s student) majoring in ECE, and pursuing power electronics
• Willing to commit  30+ hours a week minimum
• Experience circuit design and analysis
• Experience designing, assembling, and validating PCBs
• Experience with Altium, and LTSpice
• REQUIRED COURSEWORK: EE 215, EE 233, and EE 331.

Preferred qualifications:

• HIGHLY PREFERRED COURSEWORK:  EE 332, EE 351, EE 452, EE 458
• Understanding of 3 phase motors, EV architecture and traction inverters.
• Understanding of HV electrical systems. 
• Prior involvement in an engineering RSO.