NTHU Launches Taiwan's First Autonomous Electric Race Car Set to Compete in Europe in August
2023.06.21
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan today launched a new car manufactured by the NTHU Racing Team, a highly acclaimed student organization known for its achievements in international competitions. Today the team introduced their seventh-generation Formula SAE race car—the TH07, which is Taiwan's first autonomous electric race car.
The team reduced the weight of the vehicle by 40 kilograms compared with the previous generation, and they will be heading to Europe in August to compete in Formula Student Germany and Formula Student Czech Republic, aiming for further challenges and successes.
NTHU Vice President Nyan-hwa Tai (戴念華) and Hsinchu City Mayor Hung-an Kao (高虹安) kicked off the event with the NTHU Racing Team, joining the sponsors in celebrating the official debut of the TH07.
Vice President Tai mentioned that the NTHU Racing Team, which was founded by the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, has garnered a strong reputation both domestically and internationally. It has even attracted high school students who aspire to participate in Formula racing events abroad to choose to study at NTHU.
Tai pointed out that the team members have the opportunity to apply their expertise during the competition and collaborate with students from different fields. Moreover, since they need to seek sponsorship from companies, they are able to attain a deeper understanding of the demands required by the industry. This comprehensive learning experience helps enhance their overall growth and development.
Mayor Kao noted that when she visited the NTHU Racing Team last year, together with the former mayor of Taipei City Wen-je Ko (柯文哲), she was impressed by the team's comprehensive organizational structure. Kao and Ko were also amazed to see students from diverse fields such as science, engineering, economics, and foreign languages come together to contribute their expertise to the team. In addition to applying their technical skills, they were also involved in fundraising activities.
Mayor Kao added that she was deeply moved when she saw the video in which the flag of the Republic of China was being raised at international events and the host shouted, "Where is Taiwan?" Despite facing diplomatic challenges, the students from NTHU have been making their mark on the world stage in motorsports since 2015. They are not only a source of pride for Hsinchu but also a shining light for Taiwan. She also wished the NTHU Racing Team success in their upcoming races this year, hoping that they would fulfill their dreams and bring honor to the country.
Hung-yin Tsai (蔡宏營), dean of the College of Engineering, stated that his most anticipated event every June is the unveiling of the NTHU Racing Team's new car. He has watched as students progressed from gasoline cars to electric vehicles and eventually to autonomous cars in just seven years. They have advanced from competing at circuits in Asia to venturing into Europe.
He said that he wholeheartedly applauds their achievements, and that he would like to extend his special thanks to the sponsors for their support of the student team. "Your logos are displayed on the race car, and the NTHU Racing Team will carry the blessings of each and every one of you as they race on the circuits in Europe," he remarked.
The NTHU Racing Team was founded in 2015 by a group of students from the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering who were passionate about race cars and engineering. Over the years, the team has designed and developed their own Formula SAE race car from scratch, and they have achieved numerous remarkable accomplishments, including manufacturing Taiwan's first electric race car and first four-wheel drive car.
This year, they have qualified for the competitions in Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Croatia. They also achieved third place in the online qualifying exam prior to the race in Germany. After considering the overall schedule, they have decided to challenge Formula Student Czech Republic and Formula Student Germany in August. They will participate in the electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle categories with their brand-new seventh-generation race car.
Hong-jyun Bai (白泓均), captain of the NTHU Racing Team and a senior in the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, mentioned that the highlight of the seventh-generation race car is the integration of electric vehicle and autonomous driving systems. The team has developed the Q-Racer algorithm and speed sensors, and installed the autonomous driving system onto the previous generation electric race car. "This is a highly challenging task, with technical difficulties similar to the transition we made from gasoline-powered race cars to electric race cars," Bai explained.
Bai added that the seventh-generation race car is based on the sixth-generation power system, with improvements made to address issues such as excessive weight and maintenance difficulties. He mentioned that the sixth-generation race car had a strong powertrain system but weighed close to 300 kilograms. The judges suggested that if the race car could be made lighter, it would have much greater performance.
The team therefore analyzed the stress points of each component on the car and optimized them, eliminating a significant amount of unnecessary weight. The aerodynamic kit of the seventh-generation car was 25% lighter than the previous generation, bringing the total weight down to 250 kilograms. They also added maintenance openings to the enclosed aluminum monocoque shell, making it easier for the team to quickly inspect and repair the vehicle.
Adeline Jao-ya Tham (覃昭雅), deputy captain of the team and a junior student from the Department of Chemical Engineering, emphasized that the team began designing, manufacturing, and testing the vehicle in September of last year. It took them 10 months to create the first autonomous Formula SAE race car in Taiwan. The team is slated to participate in Formula Student Czech Republic from August 7th to 12th, followed by Formula Student Germany from August 14th to 20th.
"Formula Student Germany is considered the pinnacle of Formula SAE," said Tham. She explained that the event in Germany is the most challenging and of the largest scale. Many top student racing teams from around the world gather to compete, and there is even a chance to race on Formula 1 tracks.
Tham added that Formula SAE in Europe is divided into electric vehicle, internal combustion engine vehicle, and autonomous vehicle categories. This year, NTHU will be participating with their seventh-generation race car in the electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle categories. They will also be the first student racing team from Taiwan to compete in the autonomous vehicle category.
Tham stated that Formula SAE is one of the most important competitions in the engineering field. Globally renowned car manufacturers such as Porsche and Tesla have used this competition as a platform to discover talent. There have been NTHU alumni who obtained opportunities through this competition and went on to work as engineers at top-tier car manufacturers.
The NTHU Racing Team first participated in Formula SAE when it was held in Japan in 2015. Initially, they built gasoline-powered cars. In 2018, they made their first entry into the electric vehicle category and achieved an impressive fourth place. The following year, their second-generation electric vehicle secured the runner-up position. Since then, the team made the decision to focus exclusively on electric vehicles instead of gasoline cars.
In 2022, the NTHU Racing Team became the first student team from Taiwan to participate in Formula SAE in Europe. In the most challenging event, Formula Student Germany, they competed against top racing teams from around the world and achieved an impressive fifth place in the endurance race. They also secured the overall fifth position in the competition held in Croatia.
The NTHU Racing Team currently consists of 70 members from various departments, including the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Physics, the Department of Economics, the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, and the Department of Engineering and System Science. The team has students who range from their freshman year to the second-year in their master's degree programs, and they are co-supervised by Prof. Chao-an Lin (林昭安) and Prof. Pei-jen Wang (王培仁).
The NTHU Racing Team's seventh-generation autonomous electric race car, the TH07, made its official debut on June 21st.
The NTHU Racing Team's seventh-generation autonomous electric race car, the TH07, made its official debut on June 21st.
From left to right: Hong-jyun Bai (白泓均), captain of the NTHU Racing Team, Prof. Pei-jen Wang (王培仁), Prof. Chao-an Lin (林昭安), Dean Hung-yin Tsai (蔡宏營) of the College of Engineering, NTHU Vice President Nyan-hwa Tai (戴念華), Hsinchu City Mayor Hung-an Kao (高虹安), and Chair Chih-yung Huang (黃智永) of the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering.
NTHU Vice President Nyan-hwa Tai (戴念華), Hsinchu City Mayor Hung-an Kao (高虹安), and the NTHU Racing Team lifting the curtain on the TH07.
The NTHU Racing Team's seventh-generation autonomous electric race car, the TH07, made its official debut on June 21st.
The NTHU Racing Team showcasing the previous generations of gasoline and electric race cars.
Hong-jyun Bai (白泓均), captain of the NTHU Racing Team, introduced Taiwan's first autonomous electric race car.
The NTHU Racing Team's seventh-generation autonomous electric race car, the TH07, made its official debut on June 21st.
The NTHU Racing Team's seventh-generation autonomous electric race car, the TH07, made its official debut on June 21st.
The NTHU Racing Team equipped the seventh-generation race car with an autonomous driving system that includes optical radar.
It took the NTHU Racing Team 10 months to create the first autonomous Formula SAE race car in Taiwan.
NTHU Vice President Nyan-hwa Tai (戴念華) stated that the NTHU Racing Team provides a comprehensive learning and training experience.
Hsinchu City Mayor Hung-an Kao (高虹安) said that she is deeply moved to see the students from NTHU taking their race car onto the global stage.
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