FORMULA UOTTAWA

Powertrain Development

Powertrain Lead

Leading the iterative design, development, testing and validation of the Formula SAE internal combustion powertrain.

OBJECTIVE

Building a More Reliable Powertrain

The primary objectives for the season were to improve the reliability, fit and finish of the vehicle while establishing a stronger testing and validation process for the powertrain.

With the team entering the season with a small and developing powertrain group, achieving these objectives required a more structured approach to research, design, manufacturing, assembly and system integration.

The goal was not simply to increase performance, but to develop a powertrain that could consistently perform on track while giving the team the data and engineering understanding needed to make informed design decisions.

MY ROLE

Leadership & Team Development

Built the Powertrain team from an initial group of three members to over 10 active subteam members.
Hosted regular subteam meetings to coordinate project progress, technical discussions and task allocation.
Maintained member retention within a volunteer-based student engineering team through mentorship and active project involvement.
Introduced new members to ongoing projects through subsystem architecture presentations and technical design overviews.
Provided opportunities for members to gain practical experience through vehicle assembly, troubleshooting and participation in dyno testing.
Organized subsystem projects and manufacturing timelines to keep development activities aligned with internal deadlines.

DESIGN, TESTING & VALIDATION

Iterative Powertrain Development

Supported the iterative design and development of powertrain subsystems from initial research and engineering analysis through manufacturing and system integration.
Increased peak power from 79 hp to 82.5 hp through iterative design changes and engine tuning.
Developed and implemented additional data acquisition capabilities through sensor integration and structured testing plans.
Used engine data, EGT measurements and lambda targets to evaluate powertrain performance and validate design decisions.
Conducted dyno testing to identify areas for improvement and guide subsequent design iterations.
Used testing results to evaluate subsystem reliability, troubleshoot issues and improve overall powertrain performance and consistency.
Combined simulation, engineering analysis and physical testing to support design decisions throughout the development process.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Results & Lessons Learned

Competition Rankings

Contributed to the improvement of the team's overall Formula SAE competition ranking achieving 10th in autocross in Michigan and 3rd place in the IC class in Pittsburgh.

Testing through Reliability

Increased vehicle testing from approximately 50 km to over 300 km in a single season through improved powertrain reliability and the development of a more robust testing process.

Leadership and Mentoring

Mentored 13 students through hands-on engineering projects, technical discussions, design reviews and practical vehicle assembly and testing experience.

SKILLS

Technical & Leadership Skills

Software

SolidWorks
Ansys Fluent
Realis WAVE
MoTeC M1 Tune

Engineering

Powertrain Development
Engine Tuning
Vehicle Testing
Design Reviews

Leadership

Team Coordination
Mentorship
Project Planning
Technical Communication