Arrow ignites the spirit in Formula Student teams
In Europe, Arrow Electronics collaborates with universities involved in Formula Student, a global competition in automotive engineering. Each year, around 3,500 students from Europe take part and create over 100 custom vehicles.
Arrow sponsors Formula-E Race Car Projects in Norway and Germany. In Norway, Arrow works with Revolve NTNU, representing the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU). In Germany, Arrow’s Stuttgart office partners with Greenteam.
The NTNU’s Revolve initiative began in 2010 with the goal of transitioning engineering students from theoretical work to hands-on practice. Greenteam in Germany shares a similar mission.
This year’s Formula-E electric race cars were completed in May, and the 2017 Formula Student races occurred at the end of June. Awards were given for various achievements, including design, speed, project management, and more.
Arrow contributes not only through advising but also by donating money and components. They have also encouraged their suppliers to support these efforts. The primary benefit isn’t just the cars themselves, but the learning experience students gain during the eight months of building them.
“These students are the engineers of tomorrow and are highly sought after for tech jobs upon graduation,” said Christian Brusdal, general manager of Arrow in Norway. “We hope that when they enter the workforce, some of these talented young engineers will consider careers in the electronics industry and continue collaborating with Arrow, whether as employees or customers.”
Additionally, Arrow’s Sam Car project helps quadriplegic race car driver Sam Schmidt get back into racing despite his physical limitations. For its direct impact on a person’s life and showcasing the capabilities of driverless technology, the Sam Car won the 2016 Best Car Innovation award from Business Insider magazine.
