FS Team Tallinn Develops Its First In-House Inverter

For the first time in our team’s history, we have set a goal to deploy a self-developed inverter this year. This advancement reduces inverter-related losses by a factor of three, enables the use of more sophisticated control methods, and decreases both mass and volume. Developing such a complex system in-house has been a major engineering challenge, and the collaboration with Eurocircuits has been an essential part of making this possible.

One of the most complex PCBs in the system is the inverter mainboard – a 6-layer board manufactured by Eurocircuits with around 600 components. This PCB handles the entire control loop, including interfaces for encoder and current feedback, as well as communication with the rest of the vehicle. The precision of Eurocircuits’ manufacturing ensured that our intricate layout, with dense routing and tight tolerances, could be realized without compromise.

Great care has been taken to maximize system reliability, especially given the high-EMI environment in which it operates. Every input and output on the PCB is appropriately filtered and protected, and differential signaling is used for several analog and digital connections to enhance noise immunity. In addition, the board incorporates multiple ground planes and carefully designed layer stack-ups to further improve EMC performance and thermal dissipation.

Throughout the design and production cycle, Eurocircuits supported our team with fast lead times, transparent DFM (Design for Manufacturing) checks, and clear communication. Their online tools allowed us to validate manufacturability early, preventing costly redesigns and giving us confidence in the final product. For a student team working on limited budgets and tight schedules, this level of support is invaluable.

The result is not only a highly reliable inverter but also a demonstration of what is possible when advanced student engineering meets the right industry partners. With Eurocircuits as a manufacturing partner, FS Team Tallinn has been able to push the boundaries of in-house development and take another step towards building a lighter, more efficient, and more competitive electric race car.

For more information please visit the FS Team Tallinn website.