ITU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering carries out activities and innovative studies in different fields with 3 student clubs and 7 project teams. Students in clubs and teams represent our faculty with their work on national and international platforms.
İTÜ ZES Solar Car Team İESC'2024
Our country and university were successfully represented in the Challenger category as the İTÜ ZES Solar Car Team at the iLumen European Solar Challenge 2024 (iESC24) competition held in Belgium on September 21-22. In this category, where 15 teams from 9 different countries participated, the challenging 24-hour endurance stage of the competition was successfully completed and the National Champion Cup was won. During this process, the performance shown as a team provided the opportunity to showcase both technical knowledge and teamwork in the international arena.
Preparations Before the Race
Within the scope of race preparations, the team members determined as the lead group arrived at the race area on September 16 and started the necessary logistics procedures. The other team members and the race vehicle arrived at the race area shortly after. Upon arrival, the camp area was arranged and the final preparations before the race were completed. As a team, we worked together in unity and solidarity in the camp area and prepared for the race process in the best possible way.
Dynamic and Static Controls
In the first stage of the race, our vehicle went through a scrutineering (technical control) process to meet technical and safety standards. However, during this process, our vehicle suffered some mechanical damage as a result of an accident on September 19 at 13:45. With the dedicated efforts of the team, these problems were resolved by working devotedly for 22 hours and our vehicle was ready for the race again. Despite this difficulty, by working with team spirit, the vehicle was prepared for dynamic track tests and was able to continue the race.
Our vehicle was re-checked and approved after the repairs made after the accident during the scrutineering process. However, since scrutineering was entered again due to this accident, the remaining 45 minutes of the 2-hour dynamic track test period were used effectively. Tests were carried out according to the determined criteria on the dynamic track by taking 8 laps. In these tests, both the performance of our vehicle on the track was evaluated and all criteria were successfully completed with a cautious drive.
Night Test
The 2-hour night test, conducted the night before the competition, provided an important opportunity to measure the durability of our vehicle and our team's coordination skills in night driving conditions. During this process, all pilots who will be driving at night in the 24-hour race were provided with the opportunity to participate in the night drive to gain experience on the track. Our 5 pilots had the opportunity to evaluate the vehicle's performance and road holding in the dark, and a total of 28 laps were made and a distance of 112 km was covered.
Beginning of The Race
The start of the race provided great motivation to our team despite the difficult conditions. Our team started from 13th place and this disadvantage was overcome immediately afterwards. Pilots were changed every 2 hours throughout the race and a total of 11 pilot changes were made. When tire wear was detected during pilot changes, our team quickly and effectively changed 9 tires and the vehicle's front alignment settings were adjusted to minimize wear. Tire, energy management and pilot change processes were managed effectively, the team worked in harmony and took care to use the time in the pit area efficiently. Thus, there was an opportunity to continuously apply strategy in the race.
Race Data
A total of 3 one-hour charging breaks were given during the race by using the charging rights in accordance with the race strategy. During the 24-hour race, 70 minutes were spent in the pit area, 16 minutes of this time was spent on electrical technical failures and 54 minutes was spent on tire changes. The process was managed in the best way by working with an average change time of 6 minutes per tire. A total of 53 minutes was spent on pilot changes and all this time was used in the most efficient way and was present at every moment of the race.
National Champion Award
Despite all the difficulties, the race that started in 13th place was completed in 7th place. The average lap time was 4 minutes and 55 seconds, while our fastest lap was completed in 4 minutes and 4 seconds. Thanks to the superior performance, the "National Champion" cup was won. This experience enabled our team to gain significant gains in terms of both technical knowledge and team spirit, and increased their motivation for future races.
We would like to thank our team for their performance.
TeknoFest Robotaxi-Autonomous Vehicle Competition
TeknoFest 2024 Robotaxi-Autonomous Vehicle Competition has come to an end. The ITU ZES Solar Car Team managed to be among 38 teams among 367 teams and then among 24 teams in the final round. During this process, the team worked with great dedication and gained valuable experience both during the competition and during the two-week test period. The aim is to continuously develop the systems and rise to a competitive position in the international arena. With the experience gained from TeknoFest, it is aimed to achieve a degree in the Shell Eco Marathon Autonomous race to be held this year.
İTÜ Racing
The introduction of the formula student car named IST-24, designed and developed by ITU Racing, was carried out with a launch held at ITU Ayazağa Campus, Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center on July 12, 2024.
İTÜ Facilis
The ITU Facilis Automobile Team managed to come 13th among 26 teams by covering 582 km with one liter of gasoline in the Internal Combustion Prototype category in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe & Africa competition held in Nogaro, France between May 19-24.
İTÜ EPGİK
Makinistanbul, organized by ITU EPGIK between February 26-27, 2024, brought together engineering students with leading companies from many sectors from the automotive to the defense industry at the Gümüşsuyu Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan Campus.
The program, where mechanical engineering students had the opportunity to listen to the experiences and thoughts of representatives from companies carrying out pioneering activities in the fields they are interested in, included two panels where up-to-date information and current conditions in the automotive and defense industries were shared with the audience.
In addition, interview simulations where engineering candidates could experience the job interview process, case study activities that provided students with the opportunity to develop their engineering skills, and certified training were carried out. The program included seminars titled “Designing the Future” and “Digital Age and Sustainability in Production”.
You can access the list of student clubs and project teams from the links below:
Project Teams
Student Clubs
