ABSTRACT

Since automobiles have existed, enthusiasts have competed against others in friendly competition with the goal of outperforming their competitor’s car, driving skill, and decision making process. There are several distinctions between street legal cars and that of a race car. While a street legal road car (one from a dealership) emphasizes comfort, smoothness, longevity; a race car is focused on being able to lap a race track in the shortest time.

For this research analysis, the braking system of a Formula Student Race Car (FSRC), a race car division organized by SAE International, was calculated. With the goal of redesigning the user interface system for a hydraulic brake control, a master cylinder actuation system was mechanically reoriented to better maximize a driver’s responsiveness. This was optimized by taking the existing system on a FSRC, and changing the geometric properties between the location at which force is exerted on the brake pedal, and where it’s translated. In formulating applicable pedal possibilities into a mathematical function, mechanical modification allows a driver to confidently have safer control over the vehicle. This, in turn, can be directly observed and valued in various areas of FSAE competition, such as endurance racing where drivers lap a racetrack multiple times; the winner being the quickest. With proper pedal sensitivity from modifications, a driver can not only brake quicker, but more consistently. In modifying the mathematical properties of the brake pedal geometry, a more optimized allows a car to perform quicker, safer, and more efficiently.

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