FAST Solar Team: Precision Engineering for a Solar Future

Author: FAST Solar Team / Published on: 05 June 2026

In the development of a competitive solar vehicle, every detail matters. From energy efficiency to the reliability of electronic systems, everything has a direct impact on on-track performance. In this context, the partnership between FAST – FEUP Academic Solar Team and Eurocircuits plays a fundamental role in the success of our project.

A Partnership Built on Trust and Quality

Throughout the development of our electronic system, we were looking for a partner that could ensure not only manufacturing quality, but also consistency, speed, and technical support. Eurocircuits stood out due to its ability to deliver high-quality PCBs within short lead times — a critical factor in an academic environment where time is always limited.

The ease of use of their verification tools (such as the PCB Visualizer), combined with transparency in the manufacturing process, allowed us to validate our designs with confidence before production. This significantly reduced the risk of errors and costly iterations.

Electronic System Architecture

Our electronic system was divided into two main boards:

Control PCB
Communications PCB

Each plays a critical role in the vehicle’s operation and was carefully designed to ensure robustness, modularity, and efficiency.

Control PCB – The Brain of the System

The control PCB is based on a Teensy 4.1 microcontroller, chosen for its high processing capability and versatility.

Main Features:

Sensor reading (including ultrasonic and analog sensors)
Interface with buttons, switches, and potentiometers
Signal processing and decision-making
Communication with other modules via CAN

Design Highlights:

Power Input and Conversion
The system operates with a 24V input, converted to usable levels through a buck regulator (LM2576). This circuit ensures a stable output (5V and 3.3V), which is essential for the microcontroller and peripherals.

330 µH inductor
Schottky diode for efficiency
Filtering capacitors for stability

Analog Interfaces
We included signal conditioning circuits for sensors, such as:

Ultrasonic sensor, with resistive dividers for input protection
Potentiometer, directly connected to analog inputs (ADC)

Digital Inputs
Switches and buttons were integrated with simple and robust connections, ensuring reliable state detection.

Layout and Best Practices

Separation between power and signal planes
Use of decoupling capacitors close to critical pins
Minimization of current loops

Communications PCB – Connectivity and Robustness

The communications PCB is responsible for integrating the system into the vehicle network, with a primary focus on CAN communication.

CAN System:

We used a CAN transceiver (such as the SN65HVD230 or equivalent), enabling robust communication between modules.

Features:

CANH and CANL lines with 120Ω termination
Protection against noise and interference
3.3V operation compatible with the Teensy

Activation Circuit

We included a switching circuit based on a MOSFET to control HIGH/LOW states, allowing activation or deactivation of network segments as needed.

Filtering and Stability

0.1 µF capacitors for decoupling
Optimized layout for differential signals (CAN)
Careful symmetric routing of CAN lines

Manufacturing with Eurocircuits

The production of our PCBs by Eurocircuits brought several advantages:

Manufacturing Quality

Excellent trace and pad definition
Consistent solder mask
Precise layer alignment

Ease of Integration

Full compatibility with our Gerber files
Automatic error checking before production

Speed

Reliable lead times, essential for our project schedule

Impact on the Project

Thanks to this partnership, we were able to:

Reduce prototype failures
Increase the reliability of the electronic system
Accelerate the development cycle

The PCBs delivered performed as expected from the very first tests, which is a significant advantage in complex projects like ours.

Conclusion

The collaboration with Eurocircuits has been a key factor in the success of FAST’s electronic development. In a project where precision, reliability, and time are critical, having a trusted partner makes all the difference.

We remain focused on innovation and continuous improvement, and this partnership enables us to take solid steps toward a more sustainable future — powered by solar energy.