• Students from Friedrich-Gymnasium design mini racing car
• Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics EMI produces the car using a 3D printer
• Participation in the STEM Racing technology competition in March 

Normally, the 3D printing lab at the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics produces components for research projects: from ribs for crash-test dummies to parts for aeroplanes and small satellites. But this time the printers were humming for a different reason. They were producing a mini racing car designed by students from the Friedrich Gymnasium in Freiburg, Germany.

In mid-March, the team, called Team Hyperion, will compete in the STEM Racing technology competition. Formerly known as F1 in Schools, the competition is aimed at technology enthusiasts between the ages of 11 and 19. It is not just the speed of the mini racing cars that counts. Design, production, reaction time, business plan and presentation will also be judged.

Young inventors meet technology experts

»We learn a lot during the project and gain really valuable practical knowledge while we're still in school«, says Elias Hoque, a student at Friedrich-Gymnasium and team leader. »It is really cool to see how the idea turns into a finished product. The fact that we can do this together with Fraunhofer EMI is of course great. It gives us a first-hand experience of how research and innovation are put into practice.«

The racing car, which weighs around 55 grams, is not only visually striking. Thanks to its hollow construction and the use of ultra-light plastic reinforced with short carbon fibers, it is lightweight - and therefore perfect for high speeds. The Fraunhofer team used a layer-melting process for printing. The printer pulls the material from a spool, heats it, and applies it layer by layer.

»We were impressed by the design plans and the team's commitment. For example, they had already virtually optimized the race car with flow software before printing to make it as aerodynamically efficient as possible,« says workshop manager Johannes Blattmann, who coordinated the car's production.

Regional Competition March 14-15

To see if their cars can keep up with the competition, students will compete in the Southern Regional Competition on March 14 and 15. Powered by gas cartridges, the cars shoot around the track in a matter of seconds. If the team can impress with its racer, it will advance to the state competition in May.

»We are keeping our fingers crossed for the team and hope that we will soon be able to welcome some of the young talents as trainees or dual students,« says Blattmann. »Because if you're enthusiastic about technology and enjoy experimenting, programming or screwing, then you've come to the right place.«

The Fraunhofer Institute as a training partner

The Fraunhofer EMI offers apprenticeships in electronics and precision mechanics as well as dual study programs in electrical engineering, data science & artificial intelligence and computer science at its locations in Freiburg, Efringen-Kirchen and Kandern. 

Fostering young talents: The Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics EMI used a 3D printer to produce a mini racecar - designed by students at the Friedrich Gymnasium in Freiburg, Germany.

Download (1,2 MB)

Thanks to its hollow construction and the use of ultra-light, short-fiber carbon-reinforced plastic, the racer weighs only 55 grams and is lightweighted - making it perfect for high speeds. 

Download (1,2 MB)