UTFR's Autonomous Milestone

Our Driverless team has achieved a remarkable breakthrough: the first fully autonomous vehicle successfully completing an autocross track. This achievement marks a defining moment in the team's journey from theoretical design to high-performance reality for our nascent Driverless section.

The project's evolution spans eighteen months of intensive development. Starting with a robust software foundation, the team tackled challenges across multiple engineering domains. They implemented sophisticated sensor fusion systems, developed precise control algorithms, and created reliable emergency protocols. Each milestone—from the first Emergency Braking System test in November 2023 to the final autonomous run—represented a crucial step in system integration.

The success stems from seamless coordination between electrical systems, mechanical components, firmware development, and autonomous software architecture. This integration creates a unified platform capable of split-second decision-making, demonstrating the team's technical expertise and innovative approach to autonomous vehicle development. This journey was not without setbacks, and the success was evidence of the resilience of our team.

With this breakthrough achieved, UTFR sets their sights on new horizons: implementing advanced SLAM capabilities, enhancing system reliability, and preparing for competitions in Michigan and Europe. Their success showcases how dedication and systematic engineering can transform ambitious goals into reality, setting new standards for student racing innovation.

TEDxUTS: How Do You Build a Race Car?

When Team Principal Ayrton Antenucci was invited to speak at the TEDxUTS Youth event, he faced an interesting challenge: how do we explain the process of building a Formula race car to an audience of high school students? Rather than diving into technical specifications, we chose to focus on the fundamental principles that enable our team to tackle this complex engineering challenge year after year.

Highlights from his talk:

Our approach breaks down into five stages that form the backbone of our development process. We start with humility – acknowledging that building a competitive race car requires recognising where we need to improve. Each year begins with a critical review of our previous car, identifying weaknesses and setting new targets. This creates our platform for growth.

Patience comes next, particularly crucial given our position as students. The design and construction phase brings constant small failures that need working through. We've learned that breakthroughs rarely come quickly, and giving ourselves time to work through problems is essential.

Resilience becomes critical when failures start to accumulate. Pouring thousands of collective hours into a project only to face setbacks takes a toll. We've found that pushing through these moments – whether it's a collapsed suspension or a failed test run – defines our ability to improve.

Ayrton Antenucci Speaks at the TEDxUTS Youth event

Our take on confidence is specific: it's not about knowing everything but about trusting our ability to figure things out. This outlook keeps us motivated during long development cycles and complex technical challenges. It's the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps us moving forward.

Finally, responsibility ties everything together. When one component fails, the whole car fails. If we're not moving because of a suspension issue, our optimised aerodynamics and powertrain become irrelevant. This reality shapes our approach: we succeed or fail as a team, focusing our energy on solutions rather than blame.

These principles guide our work as we continue pushing boundaries in racing innovation. Our recent progress in autonomous systems demonstrates how this framework enables us to tackle increasingly complex challenges. As we prepare for competitions in Michigan and Europe, these fundamentals remain our foundation for tackling whatever technical challenges lie ahead.

Thank you to the TEDx team for the invitation.

Section Updates:

Mechanical:

Electric:

Deep Dives #4 – The Perfectionist’s Path: Christian Stalteri on UTFR’s Technical Evolution

Behind countless hours poured into our car are the dedicated individuals of UTFR. In our 'Deep Dives' series, we spotlight team members monthly, exploring their UTFR journey and giving you insight into our winning culture.

This month, I sat down with our new Mechanical Technical Director, Christian Stalteri. For him, it started with the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix. What began as casual F1 viewing evolved into a pivotal moment that shifted his academic trajectory from aspiring writer to mechanical engineer. Now, as UTFR's Mechanical Technical Director, he reflects on how that initial spark led to five years of hands-on engineering experience.

Finding Formula SAE

"I knew I was joining the team," Stalteri recalls of his pre-university planning, having made Formula SAE capability a key factor in his university selection. Despite initial hesitation about U of T's intense academic reputation, the opportunity to work on race cars proved too compelling to resist.

His UTFR journey began during the pandemic when the team operated virtually and built cars in makeshift workshops. Living in Aurora meant long commutes just to see the car, but these early challenges only reinforced his commitment. From those first testing days, Stalteri progressed through various roles - working in suspension, aero, and drivetrain before becoming suspension lead in his third year.

In class, there's one answer. Here, we have to collectively form a concept, design something that adheres to that concept, and that concept has to be driven by goals.

Learning to Lead

The transition to section lead brought new perspectives on engineering education. "I was teaching them as much as I was teaching myself," he explains about implementing regular technical lectures for new members. This approach to knowledge sharing has already shown results in the team's technical capabilities.

This focus on building foundational knowledge comes from understanding a key difference between classroom and practical engineering: "In class, there's one answer. Here, we have to collectively form a concept, design something that adheres to that concept, and that concept has to be driven by goals."

Racing Forward

As Mechanical Technical Director, Stalteri now oversees UTFR's evolution from design team to racing operation. "We're not just building cars anymore," he emphasises. "We're a racing team." This means:

"There's a huge step between building a car that works and building a car that you understand," he notes, explaining the team's current focus. This philosophy has driven improvements across all mechanical systems, from more efficient packaging to better performance optimisation.

Wisdom for Recruits

Want to join the racing revolution? Stalteri's advice is refreshingly straightforward:

This practical experience proves valuable beyond competition. "No engineer is sitting in a room alone building something this complex," Stalteri explains, highlighting how UTFR's collaborative environment mirrors industry practice.

Looking Ahead

As UTFR continues building on recent successes, Stalteri's focus on systematic development and knowledge transfer provides a foundation for future growth. The team's approach to technical challenges demonstrates how student racing programs can effectively balance competitive performance with engineering education.