The hardships and joy borne from a completely blank blueprint –
this is the story of a formula car development team composed solely of students.
Tohoku University Formula Team
Tohoku University
Formula Team
A total of 100 teams from Japan and overseas compete in “Student Formula Japan.”
Consider what happens while building plastic models and radio-controlled models. There are moments when you can hardly control your excitement as your hands give shape to what you are building and three-dimensional figures arise from flat objects. These moments are precious because in a modern society with an overabundance of things, everyone can “use” things, but “making” something is a rare experience. However, detailed blueprints and instructions are included in commercial plastic models, and the person building them is helped to reach the goal. He or she cannot experience all of the difficulties and joys of “monozukuri” or making things. Every September, a competition that encompasses all of these processes is held in Japan, and it is called “Student Formula Japan.” Composed entirely of students, the competition begins with participants drawing lines on blank pieces of paper to produce the blueprints for their car body and they create their cars based on original blueprints. It is a competition where small-sized racing cars that can actually run are entered in a race, and points are awarded for racing time, cost performance, design, fuel consumption and other criteria. The number of teams that participate increases each year with currently more than 100 domestic and foreign schools composed of universities, vocational schools and other schools competing. Tohoku University has been sending teams composed of volunteer students every year since 2013, going through repeated trial and error in order to compete and triumph over top teams.
The Tohoku University Formula Team encounters the hurdle of failing their car inspection during its first attempt.
The origins of Student Formula Japan lie in “Formula SAE®,” a practical student training program by means of making things. Formula SAE® originated in the United States, where it is widely believed that excellent engineers cannot be nurtured in the classroom alone. It was first held in 1981, the year after Japan surpassed the United States to become the world's top producer of four-wheeled vehicles. Similar competitions with the same rules were launched in England in 1998, in Australia in 2000, and finally in Japan in 2003. Just like the competition in the United States, participants do not compete on superficial numerical values such as racing times. Rather, it is a “monozukuri competition,” designed to cultivate the monozukuri spirit. At Tohoku University, the Tohoku University Formula Team was formed, consisting mainly of students from the School of Engineering. The Team first joined Student Formula Japan in 2013 when it was held for the eleventh time. However, the Team failed the car inspection which they needed to pass in order to join the race. While other teams were fiercely competing, they had to bring their car home, a car that couldn't even join the race. However, failing the car inspection is a path that many teams go through when they join the competition for the first time. The team members at the time immediately reviewed their car's problems, and set about planning for the following year.
Though groping in the dark for the solution, they used their frustration to bounce back.
Having passed their car inspection, they placed 3rd in their third attempt.
The Tohoku University Formula Team passed their car inspection during their second attempt; and they placed third in the EV division during their third attempt, winning the lightest weight prize. The team is boosting their capabilities, catching up with other teams and overtaking them. Hiro Abe, a senior, who was the team's technical director two years ago has been with the team since its formation. He says, “Our goal is to be a world-class team in monozukuri. Formula car competitions by students are being held in 8 countries and are becoming popular globally. Our team members are highly motivated, and we have a strong desire to take on challenges in world-class monozukuri because all of us have joined the team voluntarily.” Abe is one of those who experienced the team's frustration during their first attempt, the joy of passing their car inspection which allowed them to compete, and the surprise of winning a prize for the first time. “We've failed a number of times. Without any clear solutions, our days were spent repeatedly creating and trying things out. In the beginning, we clearly lacked knowledge, and we weren't even sure what the issues were. But after the struggles and progress, we were really happy the moment we saw our car run. We were even happier than when we passed our university entrance exams,” he adds.
Tohoku University Formula Teamhttp://tuftev.web.fc2.com/
2015-2016 Team Members
| ◎Team Leader |
|---|
| Akari Sawase / Second-year student, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering |
| ◎Technical Director and Chassis Group Leader |
| Hiro Abe / Fourth-year student, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering |
| ◎Drive Train Group Leader |
| Shota Sawasato / Second-year student, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering |
| Fourth-year student, School of Engineering |
|---|
| Hajime Ishi / Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering |
| Second-year students, School of Engineering |
| Hiroki Suzuki / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Yoshie Yabuta/ Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Kana Takeyama / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Risa Nakane / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Ashwini Kumar / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| First-year students, School of Engineering |
| Yutaro Ishikawa / Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture |
| Haruka Kubuta / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Naoki Tashiro/ Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering |
| Ryuse Nitta / Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture |
| Akira Matsui / Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Masato Mukai/ Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering |
| Ayano Yoshida/ Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering |
| Sora Yonaiyama/ Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| First-year students, School of Science |
| Jin Watanabe/ Department of Physics |
| Daichi Watanabe / Department of Chemistry |