KTH Formula Student Explores DeV18’s Electrical System

Inside DeV18’s Electrical System

In the summer of 2024, the team went to the Formula student Austria and the formula student Germany competitions where we competed with DeV18. A lot of lessons were learnt and motivation is high for the upcoming season. DeV18s electrical system is powered by a network of PCBs that are used to manage sensor data, safety systems, and high-voltage circuitry. In this post, we’ll explore some of the key PCBs in our electrical system.

Frontbox: The Frontbox gathers data from critical sensors, including the accelerator and brake pedal position sensors, brake pressure sensor, and steering angle sensor. This data is sent over the car’s CAN-bus to other components. Additionally, the Frontbox controls the car’s Emergency Braking System (EBS) when operating autonomously, actuating pneumatic valves to engage the brakes when necessary.

BSPD: Our Brake System Plausibility Device (BSPD) is an analog PCB that monitors both brake pressure and battery power output. If brake pressure exceeds a set threshold while battery power exceeds 5 kW, the circuit opens a relay, opening the car’s critical shutdown circuit. This ensures that the car operates safely.
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ECU: The Environmental Control Unit (ECU) manages the car’s lighting system, including brake lights and Autonomous System Status Indicators (ASSI). It also controls the car’s cooling system, ensuring optimal temperature regulation during operation, which is crucial for maintaining high performance in competitive conditions.

Precharge: The precharge PCB controls the gradual charging of the inverter when the high-voltage (HV) system is powered on. By limiting the current through a precharge resistor, this PCB ensures that the inverter and other components aren’t damaged during startup.

HV-sensor: For safety, the HV-Sensor PCB monitors voltage in the tractive system like the battery and inverter. The data is used by the logic circuit for the Tractive System Active Light (TSAL), which indicates the state of the car’s high-voltage system to those around the car.

All of these PCBs were made possible thanks to our partnership with Eurocircuits, who provided high-quality PCBs and assembly services, helping us meet the rigorous demands of our project. Their support has been essential in ensuring the reliability and performance of our car’s electronic systems.

For more information please visit the KTH Formula Student website.