Prom Racing Navios FSAE Team

Prom Racing Navios FSAE Team

Prom Racing Navios is the Formula Student team representing the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in the Formula Student competition. The team’s primary goal is to design and manufacture a new Formula Student race car every year. The true challenge, though, lies in continuously achieving better results, both in the static and dynamic events of the competition.

With the valuable support of NTUA, the team is able not only to design 100% of the car in-house, but also to manufacture over 90% of its components within their own workshop.

Since its establishment in 2008, the team has built a legacy of 18 years and 10 race cars, with the first five being combustion-powered and the most recent five electric. In 2023, the team expanded its capabilities by introducing Autonomous Driving technology, allowing them to compete in the Driverless category.

During the latest season, Prom Racing Navios competed in three major Formula Student events, in Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal, earning an impressive nine podium finishes in total and securing 2nd place overall in the prestigious competition in Portugal.

This year, the team is setting its sights even higher. Their focus is on maximizing the performance of their dual-motor race car while simultaneously collecting data to prepare for the transition to a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle. Prom Racing Navios remains committed to continuing its tradition of excellence and showcasing passion, teamwork, innovation, and uncompromising quality in every aspect of their work.

Looking forward, the team is eager to continue their success in future competitions and inspire more students to pursue their passion for space technology. They are committed to fostering a community of innovation and collaboration, where students from all backgrounds can come together to tackle the challenges of the space industry.

The team is divided into several specialized subteams. One of them is the Electronics Subteam, which is further split into two departments: High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV).

Both departments make extensive use of custom-designed PCBs to ensure high performance and reliability across all systems.

High Voltage (HV) Department

Prom Racing Navios designs and manufactures its own accumulator system.

To manage and monitor this system, the team has developed a fully custom Battery Management System (BMS), which includes both Master and Slave Boards, shown below.

These PCBs play a crucial role in ensuring driver safety and in protecting all electrical components of the car in case of any anomaly.

In addition to the BMS, the HV department also develops custom high voltage inverters to control the team’s two electric motors.

This approach allows full control and adjustability, enabling the team to fine-tune performance parameters for maximum efficiency and power output.

Low Voltage (LV) Department

In this department, PCBs are the A and Z of every system.

First and foremost, the team designs its own custom Vehicle Control Unit (VCU). That’s the single most important controller of the car. The VCU is responsible for managing and coordinating all vehicle functions, ensuring precise and safe operation. A picture of the VCU can be seen below.

Moreover, the team has developed a telemetry system, which enables real-time communication during races and allows engineers to collect and analyze all types of performance data. The car’s dashboard is also a custom-designed PCB, acting as the main interface between the VCU and the driver. Every driver input and control choice is made through this system.

Additionally, the team’s Cooling Control Unit (CCU) manages the car’s cooling system, ensuring that all temperature-sensitive components operate within optimal conditions.

With the valuable support of PCBWay, a global leader in PCB prototyping and manufacturing, Prom Racing Navios gains a significant advantage in one of the most demanding and fast-paced engineering competitions in the world.

In Formula Student, where deadlines are tight, standards are high, and every millisecond counts, high-quality printed circuit boards with outstanding precision and reliability will have a major impact.

With their help, Prom can focus on what really matters; innovation, adaptability, and progress.

These benefits play a crucial role in the development of P26, the team’s 11th racecar, where electronics integration and rapid iteration are more important than ever.