The award was given to her for the most beautiful vehicle design, as well as for the most significant improvements since the previous competition. In the general ranking, it was ranked 28 out of 44.
The Technion's delegation to the international Formula Student competition returned to Israel yesterday after winning a special award, given to it by the chief designer of the Fiat Group (Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari). The award was given to her for the most beautiful vehicle design, as well as for the most significant improvements since the previous competition. In the general ranking, it was ranked 28 out of 44.
The Technion team, consisting of about 40 students from various faculties at the Technion, is headed by Doris Fitilon and Ahmed Omari. Doris, born in the USA, grew up in Holon, completed her bachelor's degree this summer at the faculty of mechanical engineering as part of the academic reserve, and will soon enlist in the armed forces. Ahmed, who grew up in Germany and in the village of Sandela near Afula, earned a bachelor's degree at the Technion as part of the N.A.M (Outstanding Arab Youth) program and is currently studying for a master's degree in mechanical engineering. The members of the group note the enormous contribution of Reuven Katz, head of the design and production course at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, who helped them raise the funding, took care of the laboratory for them, and integrated the project into an annual course under his guidance: the "Design a New Product" course. The group's activity was partially financed by the Grand Batechnion Energy Program (GTEP).
"As soon as I heard about the project, I knew I was in," says Michael Kochenko, a student at the Faculty of Aeronautics and Space Engineering, who was entrusted with covering the vehicle and also drove it in the competition. "Building the car was for me the fulfillment of a childhood dream. We built a much stronger car than needed, and I am very proud of the result."
"I was drawn to the project because I wanted to do something practical during my studies," says Doris Fitilon, "and building a car is mechanical engineering at its best. This is the main thing that kept me busy in these two years, and what I learned there in aspects of management and engineering I didn't learn anywhere else. The competition itself was an amazing experience. Groups from all over the world came there, sleeping together in the campsite next to the racetrack, and the atmosphere was great."
The competition included a test of engineering aspects (the "static competition") followed by the various assignments testing acceleration, speed and performance. "We learned the lessons of last year and arrived much better prepared, with a stronger and faster car. We achieved an excellent result in the acceleration category (75 m in 4.3 seconds), and also in the endurance category."
The Technion car was driven by four members of the group: Doris, Michael, Gilad Agam and David Amarilio. During the last year, the drivers trained at "Dan Karting" in Haifa, where they were assigned a simulator and training free of charge. Other donors are the "Kanfit" company, which provided the carbon coating, and "Flasco", which flew the vehicle to Italy and back. These days the team is forming the next team, which is expected to represent the Technion in the 2015 competition.
A video showing the preparations for the competition
The SAE organization has been organizing various events and competitions for engineering students from around the world for thirty years. The most prestigious competition within the organization's activities is Formula student, in which the students are required to design and produce a racing car.
