All diary's pages

New Mufflers
Posted on 2010-02-18 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
This year the ET3 will have a new muffler! It's a special component, designed for the competitions. We can't wait to hear the new sound. Thanks to LeoVince SBK for the collaboration.

New Intake System
Posted on 2010-02-09 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
The first prototype of the ET3 intake system was built and is just arrived here. Now we're ready to test it at the flow bench. Thanks to Magneti Marelli Powertrain for this realization.

New look!
Posted on 2009-09-08 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Barbers of Pisa!!

I'll show you the way!
Posted on 2009-09-08 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Andrea is more than just a cameraman...

Hey guys, where's everybody?
Posted on 2009-09-05 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
It is 7:34 am and we are waiting for refueling. But where's everybody? Let's take a picture just to spend some time.

Is this the line?
Posted on 2009-09-05 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Since there was no line for refueling that early, we decided to create our own line.

What the hell is he doing?
Posted on 2009-09-05 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
What the hell is Francesco doing with his laptop laying on a side pod at 7:45 am? Is he writing a news on the website? Is he trying a new firmware for our gearshift? Is he messing around with the engine map? No one knows.

Hurray, we are not alone anymore!
Posted on 2009-09-05 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
(8:01 am) Here is Graz TU! We are not alone in line anymore. They probably came second in line because yesterday they organized a super cool party! No one organizes better parties than our friends of Graz TU and we hope to join them on Monday, after ... [Read all]

Ready to get started
Posted on 2009-09-04 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Everything is ready to get started. We cannot wait to get started with the static events that will take place tomorrow.

Lowering the car
Posted on 2009-09-01 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
In order to enhance the performance of the underbody, we decided to lower ET2ev: now it's just a few microns above the ground.

Changing the pitch of a muffler in one step
Posted on 2009-09-01 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
We weren't happy about the pitch of our muffler so we decided to stress it enough to make a hole in it. Now it sings like crazy. To many miles on the test track!

The truth is 3 flat tyres out of 4!
Posted on 2009-09-01 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
The way we lowered the car to enhance the underbody efficiency is very simple: we asked our drivers to power slide at the end of our test session until they managed to flatten three tyres. Not bad for a car with only four tyres!

Some serious drifting
Posted on 2009-09-01 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Wanna see some serious drifting? Just ask Tommaso and Andrea to burn out a set of tyres. Here is Andrea drifting with one hand and here is T... [Read all]

The right cost!
Posted on 2009-08-08 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
An excellent 10 position in the cost event is what we needed!! Very good job guys!! And very nice poster too... when we discussed it was still warm...

It is only a test!
Posted on 2009-08-07 by Massimo Guiggiani (Faculty advisor)
Wait...don't get too excited...the real stuff is tomorrow...

Do you like my new tatoo?
Posted on 2009-08-07 by Massimo Guiggiani (Faculty advisor)
Working 4 days till 4 in the morning for 4 small stickers... Now we are ready for the race...

Smile everybody!
Posted on 2009-08-07 by Massimo Guiggiani (Faculty advisor)
The engineering design event and the cost event are over...

Fuel???
Posted on 2009-08-07 by Massimo Guiggiani (Faculty advisor)
Fuel energy not only for the car!!

Stop at the Customs Office!!
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We had few problems at the customs... we were asked a detailed list of goods, but opening the doors was enough...

Little Italy / 1
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
A corner of Italy arrived at the camp ground in Hockenheim. Tents, gazebo and a kitchen to feel home...

Little Italy / 2
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We exported the Talebano pasta... A team asked us a pan: when they discovered there was some tomato sauce left they cleaned it ... with bread!!

Making Friends
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
The competition is warming up but the atmosphere is very friendly!

What are they palnning?
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
If you see these guys in the pits discussing about business it's not because of Wall Street... They're just repeating something about business plan!

Tech Inspection: first attempt
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We did not match all the requirements at the tech inspection: almost all the teams fail the first attempt. Actually, we are working to refine the car and be ready for the next (last?) round...

Good feedback
Posted on 2009-08-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Several judges visit our pit: we were asked about our car details. They seem to appreciate ET2ev and we take care of their suggestions... Ready for second tech inspection?

Full Up
Posted on 2009-08-05 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
There's nothing more to add...

New shoes
Posted on 2009-08-01 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
ET2ev is ready for a new set of Dunlop tyres. All right then, let's test them!

Test! Test!! Test!!!
Posted on 2009-08-01 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We have been testing the car continuously in the last weeks. Time's never enough and testing is even funnier than before... but now we have to stop for a couple of days to refine ET2ev and check everything for the next race in Hockenheim...

Fast & Festo
Posted on 2009-08-01 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Gear-shifting has incredibly improved: up and down shift are smooth and match drivers' expectations!! Pneumatic actuators and new tubing from Festo make it possible a fast and reliable gear-shift.

Yes we CAN!
Posted on 2009-08-01 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
The CAN-based communication with GCU simplifies the fine-tuning dramatically. We tested hundreds of parameter values in few days...

Ducks on the crosswalk!
Posted on 2009-07-27 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Please stop at the crosswalk! The duck family is crossing...

Airport test, day 5
Posted on 2009-07-27 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Acceleration test it's not just a race against time... Actually, it'a a metter of honour... Watch the videos of the unpredictable challenges: ET2ev vs. the glorious Fiat Panda, and... [Read all]

Did we miss anything?
Posted on 2009-07-27 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Where's the car? Oh yes, it's somewhere on the van...

New tires to "bite" the road
Posted on 2009-07-27 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
ET2ev was for the first time equipped with the new Dunlop tires and the time in the acceleration test was lowered of about 0,2 seconds: what a result! But there's still much to do...

An airship should be just enough
Posted on 2009-07-23 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
With a few simple calculations we found out that the volume of air we need in order to complete an endurance test with our pneumatic gearshift is about that of an airship. No problem: our box is an hangar so we should be able to handle this issue qui... [Read all]

Killing a tyre
Posted on 2009-07-23 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Killing a tyre during the tests is quite easy: you just need to keep going until it gets flat. This is exactly what happened twice in the past couple of days.

Dressing like a nun
Posted on 2009-07-23 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
ET2ev's acceleration is so wild, we decided to dress it like a nun and try to keep it calm. I think this is not going to work.

We do have nice umbrella girls!
Posted on 2009-07-23 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Just a few days ago we were complaining about not having umbrella girls. Now we do!

Fight fire with fire
Posted on 2009-07-22 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
We are pushing so hard on our engine that some tape near the exhaust took fire. The problem was solved within a few seconds by our fire fighter team. Luckily the fire didn't damage anything.

A gazebo is not enough
Posted on 2009-07-22 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
We need a roof over our heads in order to change the settings of ET2ev during the tests under the sun. We decided that a gazebo is not enough for ET2ev and we moved into a 2000 m² fireproof hangar.

How much camber do you want?
Posted on 2009-07-22 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Thanks to our new uprights, we are able to change the camber setting in a few seconds (you can also watch a video about it). Time to play with it!

Umbrellas like in MotoGP
Posted on 2009-07-21 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
In order to keep doing tests in sunny Tuscany without getting sunburnt we started using umbrellas like in MotoGP. However, unlike MotoGP we don't have nice girls to hold them.

Stop and give way...
Posted on 2009-07-21 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
This morning the E-Team stopped at the traffic light to give way to... airplanes!!

Airport test, day 1
Posted on 2009-07-21 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Today we performed intensive road tests at the airport. We had good feedback from the drivers and the powertrain section is now ok. Give a look to the latest video report from ther... [Read all]

Nice to hear from you!
Posted on 2009-07-18 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Our engine sung again this morning... Just a couple of short melodies 'cause it's better to investigate a bit further possible reasons of malfunctioning... Our engine division will work it out soon. But it's a pleasant piece of news, isn't it?

A cool surprise
Posted on 2009-07-17 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We appreciated these nice watches! It's a cool gift from our Io? Ion PBP sponsor. Three colors are available: white, red and black, the colors of the E-Team. Good job Mariangela!

Magnetic attraction
Posted on 2009-07-17 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Our electronic gearshift needed some adjustments to the magnetic sensor behind the wheel. Now everything works fine.

Ready to eat some tarmac
Posted on 2009-07-17 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Et2ev has just started its dynamic tests and it is already eating the tarmac. We will be fine tuning all the systems for the next couple of weeks.

Hello, this is the pilot speaking
Posted on 2009-07-17 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Our drivers are helping us to fine tune the setup for ET2ev. Today we focused on our electronic gearshift.

Last roar?
Posted on 2009-07-17 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Follow the last road test of ET2ev. You can find nice videos on our media section. Actually, it could be the last roar of our engine... after test at the Expo area it sounded not s... [Read all]

E-Team …. Sea way
Posted on 2009-07-16 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
An E-Team delegation has been received by Italian Coast Guard, during Notte Lido Blu in Lido di Camaiore, boarding the life raft. When the aerodynamics members found that out, they started to build a copy in rubber and fiberglass for E-Team�... [Read all]

Uprights with grilled bearings
Posted on 2009-07-15 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
(*there might be frozen hubs) In order to assemble the wheel bearings, We cooked the uprights and the inner rings of the bearings and at the same time we froze the hubs and the outer rings of the bearings. Everything went perfect and the new wheel ... [Read all]

Sausages, Sangiovese and ET2ev
Posted on 2009-07-13 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
We finished to build ET2ev a few hours before the rollout and this has been possible only because of the energy of grilled sausages and Sangiovese. E-Team grilled just behind our workspace in the garden of Engineering Faculty and tested the cooking o... [Read all]

Dampers aren't a mistery anymore
Posted on 2009-07-11 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
We got them! The suspension and dynamics team measured the damper characteristics by RD Suspension in Pistoia. We are now able to set the suspension in a better to way and we can improve our vehicle dynamics simulations with more realistic car models... [Read all]

Checking out our new meeting room
Posted on 2009-07-11 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
In order to match the beauty of our new car, ET2ev, we decided to move our meeting room into a medieval building here in Pisa. The new location looks really nice.

Working around the clock... and some
Posted on 2009-07-10 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
As we are getting closer to the presentation of ET2ev, the enthusiasm of the team is growing stronger and stronger. The workshop is always busy, both at day and at night. Sometimes people even decide to sleep there. (If you are wondering whether the ... [Read all]

We are not as good reporters as we are engineers
Posted on 2009-07-10 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Although a lot of exciting things are happening in our workshop, we are so busy building ET2ev that we don't actually have time to report it with the news. I promise you that from tomorrow we will try to keep you as updated as possible. The most exci... [Read all]

Time to change gear!
Posted on 2009-07-04 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Here's the Gear Control Unit!! The board is finished and programmed... ready for the ET2ev!

Getting ready to spark
Posted on 2009-07-04 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
The electrical system is almost ready to get mounted on ET2ev. This year everything will be nice and tidy. No more skeins!

Going to the tailor...
Posted on 2009-07-04 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
The ET2ev frame is sitting in our workshop, dying to get dressed. I think the tailors are coming soon with a wonderful fiberglass body...

...to get dressed!
Posted on 2009-07-04 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
After a few weeks of hard work, the ET2ev fiberglass body is finally ready. Our tailors are now working to mount it on the frame. It already looks very good!

E-Team running behind Rennteam Stuttgart
Posted on 2009-07-03 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
Antonio Sponziello and me visited the world champion FSAE team. Their team captain answered our questions for a long time and let us watching the team working on the car. We wrote a brief report on this visit and we hope the information we got can be... [Read all]

New tires have arrived!
Posted on 2009-07-03 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
Our new Dunlop tires for the 2009 season are now in the E-Team home. Thanks to our sponsor Dunlop, we received two slick sets and one rain set (this time it is really rain...). We are now waiting to test them.

A light at the end of the (underbody) tunnel
Posted on 2009-06-27 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
The rear part of the underbody with two tunnel is quite ready.

HOODini
Posted on 2009-06-26 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
Magically from a several and simple piece of polystyrene a hood will be soon...

"A bugs' life"
Posted on 2009-06-25 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We are currently debugging the firmware of the gear control unit. The interface you see in the picture makes it possible to program the unit and log the main control parameters. You can also feel onboard looking at the dashboard displayed on the PC ... [Read all]

That's hot!
Posted on 2009-06-22 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
Hot days, hot resin to obtain a hot lap. In the image some pics from the production of underbody tunnel.

Putting pressure
Posted on 2009-06-15 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
Cp distribution over the frontal area of ET2ev.

Resin forever
Posted on 2009-06-15 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
The first selfmade composite part of ET2ev. Glassfiber and epoxy resin.

Tuning and overtuning
Posted on 2009-06-13 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Our engine experts are working around the clock to impress everyone with our engine tuning. The Aprilia RX 550 is very happy to sing like crazy on the bench.

Looking for balance
Posted on 2009-06-13 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
How can you measure the right balance of resin without a precision scale? Easily with a little bit of fantasy, some plastic glasses, thread, a bar and a lot of nuts.

Cutting, sewing, and stitching like tailors
Posted on 2009-06-12 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
With a lot of cutting and welding, the frame of ET2ev is coming to life really fast. The front of the frame is almost ready. Soon enough we will start painting it back in red.

The apprentice welder
Posted on 2009-06-10 by Gabriele Melani (Chassis team leader)
Just today the work on the ET2ev chassis has started. In the next days some pictures will follow, in order to describe the welder's work...

Killing an ETx to make another one
Posted on 2009-06-10 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
It's always hard to see a piece of engineering to be cut in halves but sometimes it is for a greater good. In this case ET1 is being cut to build ET2ev.

At every cost
Posted on 2009-06-09 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
The deadline for submitting the Cost Report for Formula Student Germany 2009 is getting closer and the judges will soon start to review them. I cannot say that I particularly envy them! It looks like they will be reviewing thousands of pages...
[Read all]

A pallet, a pallet, my kingdom for a pallet
Posted on 2009-06-08 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
An invaluable building material: pallet! After destroying forests, humans retrieve wood from pallets stolen at supermarket waste areas. Then they starting to build moulds and supports.

I was a Remington
Posted on 2009-06-08 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
I was a Remington typewriter gear. Now I'm an efficient mill tool used to remove foam materials. .

Pics from GCU testing
Posted on 2009-06-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
The new GCU fw manages the dashboard and pneumatics correctly. Another step forward...

Mechatronics
Posted on 2009-06-06 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
When electronic guys use machine tool it's real mechatronics, isn't it? The linear positon sensor needed some parts to be assembled to the actuators. More experiments on Monday...

Heat Exchangers and Fans
Posted on 2009-06-06 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
Finally the heat exchangers and the fans have been chosen. Moreover, the exchangers position on the car has been defined (thanks to “Frame-man”, “Aerodynamic-man” and “Layout-man”). Differently from ET1, the ET2ev wi... [Read all]

At what cost?
Posted on 2009-06-03 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
After a big effort of all the team leaders, the cost report of ET2ev is finally complete and ready for submission for Formula Student Germany 2009. Many thanks to everyone who contributed.

Fuel Check Valve
Posted on 2009-06-01 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
The TPV 8 tank valve from Newton Equipment is arrived few days ago. This valve will be mounted on fuel tank to prevent fuel leakage during tilt test, and will also ventilate the tank when engine is running. Thanks to Newton Equipment for the suppor... [Read all]

Caught in the web
Posted on 2009-06-01 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
ET2ev is going to be catched in the web by SpiderCFDmen: the clash of vortex is starting. .

Too much Power?
Posted on 2009-06-01 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
More fuel? More spark advance? During the last session on the dyno test, we’ve had a “little” problem at mufflers… We know the cause: too much power!!!! Don’t worry, be happy…. The new mufflers will be ready very soon, so we can start ... [Read all]

Pedals, master cylinders, seegers, etc.
Posted on 2009-05-31 by Gabriele Melani (Chassis team leader)
After 12 or 13 different layouts, the new pedal arrangement is defined and verified. You can see it in the picture... I think that Lorenzo (omofreni) starts to hate me...

A new steering rack for ET2ev
Posted on 2009-05-30 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
After several months we spent searching and evaluating many solutions, we decided for the Titan fixed centre steering rack. Machining has just begun; it is expected to be in our garage in about two weeks.

Time for bodybuilding with steroids
Posted on 2009-05-29 by Lapo Filippo Mori (Team captain)
Luca Sciurti, the team leader of E-Team style department, is working hard to give ET2ev a wonderful body. We can't wait to see it for real.

ET2ev can now stand on its own... uprights
Posted on 2009-05-29 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
The new uprights are finally designed and their production will start in the next days. Home made hubs (bye bye Panda...), high precision wheel bearings and a quick camber setting method are the main new features of these crucial car components. Pics... [Read all]

gCu-code
Posted on 2009-05-29 by Andrea Lazzeri (Electronics team leader)
As you know, the ET2ev will have a new GCU... and of course a new firmware too! We have developed a preliminary "beta" version of the firmware, which is now under test. The first performance results are very very good, and it will be posted soon! sta... [Read all]

Wheel angles: no more making the sign of the cross
Posted on 2009-05-29 by Riccardo Bartolozzi (Suspensions team leader)
Road tests are not that far-off for the ET2ev and the team needs an accurate measurement system for camber and toe angles. Antonio Serluca has just joined the team to begin this work. The system is now under development following the idea of a cross-... [Read all]

The missing part
Posted on 2009-05-25 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
Finally, the flange is arrived! What is it? It’s the interface between the engine and the dyno…(a little bit necessary....?)

The Engine…………………runs!!!!!
Posted on 2009-05-25 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
The new Aprilia 550 engine has been installed on the dyno, with new intake and exhaust system. The team has worked “only” 9 hours non-stop without have lunch…but at the end, at first start the engine has runned!!! And now, an hard “lovely”... [Read all]

Starting the handwork
Posted on 2009-05-17 by Lorenzo Pessa (Aerodynamics team leader)
It's time to leave the CAD and to start to build the new ET2ev body in fiber glass and epoxy resin. Waiting the nose and sidepods tubs, the underbody and two back panels are parts that will be created first. The pictures will be soon online.

How many screws? How many turns of the screw? 1$
Posted on 2009-05-13 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Fill in the table of the cost report is not funny at all… How many things are embedded in our car!?!?! Unbelievable!! And you have to know even turns of the screws… But finally we did it, we kept trace of everything! Actually, Andrea did it!! Thx... [Read all]

New Intake System
Posted on 2009-05-12 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
The new plenum is... ready!!!!!!!! And also the restrictor! Our Engine will now undergo testing. More news will be posted soon!

Exhaust System
Posted on 2009-05-12 by Alessio Simi (Engine team leader)
Do you like our new exhaust system?

Shall we dance “Lambda”?
Posted on 2009-04-29 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
The lambda sensor’s now ok and dances lambada , ready for a dance night…it’s 9 p.m.!!

The devil wears Prada, and our new board too
Posted on 2009-04-23 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
We chose the box for our new Gear Control Unit: looks count…

No comparison!
Posted on 2009-04-19 by Francesco Lenzi (Team co-captain)
Luca has done an excellent job! Now the ET2ev looks pretty much better than ever!! See the latest ET2ev rendering...