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We kicked off September with two weeks of our annual bootcamp, welcoming new team members with intensive training and knowledge transfer. The focus was on accelerating the personal and professional growth of our team members, laying the groundwork to shape the world-class engineers and leaders of the future, that is the main goal, and vision of Revolve NTNU.
Through hands-on learning and intensive courses, our members got to accelerate their knowledge in advanced topics such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), electronics design, and control systems modeling. These sessions were complemented by practical workshops on manufacturing techniques, teamwork dynamics, and project management. This immersive experience provided the tools and mindset needed to tackle the challenges of building a high-performance race car, fostering innovation and leadership from day one.
The bootcamp culminated in our traditional cabin trip, a weekend dedicated to team bonding, creativity, and relaxation. Surrounded by the stunning Norwegian wilderness, we organized group activities and fun challenges that set the tone for the collaborative spirit we`ll carry throughout the year.
Following the introductory period, we moved on to our annual Concept Review. This is a cornerstone event in Revolve NTNU's annual calendar, marking the transition from initial brainstorming to concrete planning, and serves as a platform for presenting and evaluating the team's proposed concepts for the upcoming race car.
During the review, each subsystem group—such as Chassis, Power Systems, Aerodynamics, and Control Systems—presents their design proposals, including technical specifications, innovative features, and integration strategies. These presentations are subjected to rigorous scrutiny by alumni, who provide critical feedback to ensure feasibility and alignment with project goals.
By the end of the Concept Review weekend, the team achieves a unified vision and a set of validated concepts, setting a clear and informed direction for the detailed design and manufacturing phases that follow.
In October, we transitioned into the design phase, where each group worked on their respective systems, making significant progress. This is the phase where we continuously iterate and refine our designs. During this period, our Mechanical department spends hours utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) to innovate systems and parts. Our electrical department does the circuit design in Altium, and designs electromechanical parts in CAD. For our Software department a major focus was placed on developing automated testing infrastructure to streamline our code testing processes. This initiative aims to improve code quality and reduce testing time. The team also developed a custom quiz application to help the team prepare for the Formula Student Quiz in January.
A highlight of October was a visit from our main sponsor Kongsberg Gruppen, which included several visits during the month from their different divisions, with presentations from both them and us, along with a dedicated tour of our workshop and facilities.
We have in general been lucky enough to receive valuable assistance from many of our sponsors.
As we delved deeper into the design phase in November, the team began preparing for the Design Review. We achieved key milestones during this period. Finalizing suspension points and monocoque design we have reached pivotal checkpoints in our project year. Additionally, the PCB layouts were finalized, and our Software department made significant strides across multiple fronts. The Autonomous Systems team explored improvements to various subsystems while continuing work on automated testing frameworks. Control Systems advanced their Torque Vectoring system and vehicle dynamics simulator. Meanwhile, Data Engineering conducted extensive research and testing for the new telemetry solution, laying the groundwork for a more robust data collection system.
This year, we embarked on the Østlandsturné, traveling from Trondheim to the Oslo area and Kongsberg to visit our sponsors. This event is for us a key opportunity to showcase our progress, share knowledge, and deepen collaborations with the companies that support our journey.
This year, we brought along Hera, our 2024 race car, as the centerpiece of our presentations and Show & Tell sessions. At every stop, we demonstrated Hera’s advanced systems, shared stories of its development, and highlighted the invaluable contributions from our sponsors.
In addition to presenting our work, we were welcomed into our sponsors’ facilities, where we learned about their cutting-edge technologies, innovative processes, and industry expertise. These visits offered us fresh insights and inspiration for future projects, making the tour a two-way exchange of knowledge and ideas.
In December, we shifted focus to production planning while balancing exam preparations. Despite a busy schedule, the team ended the year on a high note with several impressive achievements.
For our Mechanical department, the design of our mechanical parts is nearing the finish line, and we are finally ready to start building the system - the car’s “body”.
In the Electrical department, the “life forces” of our car have sparked to life. We have finalized the PCB design and production, and are well into testing each system to ensure perfect integration with the rest of the car.
Our Software department, research and testing phases were completed for the new telemetry system, preparing us for implementation. The Autonomous Systems team has been exploring new solutions and rewriting portions of the codebase while continuing to improve our automated testing framework. A notable achievement in our vehicle dynamics simulation work has been the initiation of driver-in-loop implementation, which will enable even more accurate testing capabilities.
The autumn semester has been a testament to the team’s commitment and ability to juggle academic responsibilities with the demands of the project. With production on the horizon, we’re excited to bring our designs to life after the holiday break.
We have ambitions to build the best racecar and team in the history of Revolve NTNU, so stay tuned as we continue our journey towards testing this at the 2025 competition season!
