STEM students ignite excitement at the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix

STEM students ignite excitement at the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix

RMIT was represented by student ambassadors from multiple programs across the STEM College at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.

Lines were out the door at the RMIT marquees set up in the Education Precinct at Albert Park late last month.

Activations such as MOTUM’s Race Simulator drew a crowd of eager Grand Prix attendees as they watched their friends place a VR headset on and zoom around a virtual racetrack.

A boy sits in a model of a racecar with a VR headset on. The screen in front of him shows the inside of a car on a racetrack. Visitors could control a racecar around a simulated track with MOTUM’s Race Simulator. Credit: RMIT

In the large RMIT tent, visitors were treated to multiple interactive activations.  

RMIT’s own NOVA Simulator sat in the corner of the tent, where people could don a VR headset and control a helicopter as it flew over a simulated environment. 

As the NOVA Simulator was for attendees 18 years and over, there were also stationary VR headsets for the younger visitors to also experience controlling helicopters over a simulated Melbourne city skyline. 

Four students and an academic pose in front of the NOVA Simulator. Student ambassadors and Dr Ian Peake pose with the NOVA Simulator. Credit: RMIT.

RMIT Centre for Digital Innovation also had a holographic display with three-dimensional images of RMIT Motorsport race cars that attendees could see without having to wear a headset. 

The RMIT Motorsport team had their 2023 Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) cars, the R23, on display for people to look at, interact with and ask questions about. 

Jonas Rutherford and Han Ooi were two student ambassadors representing the Motorsport team. 

“We built this car to race in the FSAE 2023, which is an international competition where students can race their cars in a safe environment,” Han explained. 

“As there is an actual living, breathing human in the car, the standard for safety and quality is much higher, 

“This higher burden is a distinguishing point for our team, because if we make a mistake, someone might get electrocuted,” he said. 

Many people stand around a race car on display. Members of the RMIT Motorsport team spoke to visitors about their race car. Credit: RMIT.

Jonas is the team principal for RMIT Motorsport, and believes the team provides a great opportunity for students to learn new skills. 

“Through the FSAE competition, we get to come together and work on a real-life project,” he said. 

“We can compare our engineering skills and dynamic performance in driving cars against other university students, 

“This allows us to apply skills we’re learning in class, and we get to see real-life results in the competition,” he said. 

 

Story by: Sheridan van Gelderen 

08 April 2024

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08 April 2024

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