Omega Engineering is deeply committed to advancing engineering innovation, particularly within the context of STEM education. Recognizing the vital role of STEM in shaping the future of engineering, Omega actively supports STEM education through strategic collaborations with student-run engineering programs. One notable partnership is with Carnegie Mellon Racing, the student engineering team at Carnegie Mellon University.

Carnegie Mellon Racing brings together bright minds to design, build, and maintain a fully electric Formula1-style race car, competing with university Formula 1 SAE teams globally. The team offers undergraduates opportunities for technical and management experience on significant engineering projects, irrespective of their background or experience level.
With a rich racing history since 2002, the team transitioned to an electric powertrain in 2014, pioneering the technology. In the recent Formula Hybrid + Electric racing competition in New Hampshire, their open-wheel all-electric race car secured 2nd place overall and 1st in Design, Autocross, and Acceleration events.

For the upcoming year, the team plans significant changes to the chassis and battery of their race car. They will shift from steel-tube chassis to carbon monocoque chassis, reducing mass and lowering their carbon footprint. The battery pack architecture will also change, opting for pouch cells over cylindrical cells. This change allows for fewer total batteries, increased energy density, and enhanced serviceability, reducing waste and manufacturing efforts.

Omega Engineering contributes to this innovation by donating high-quality biaxial strain gauges. These gauges, known for their rugged construction and high performance, will be used by Carnegie Mellon Racing to validate loads across control arms in their suspension system. By integrating these strain gauges with amplifiers on custom data acquisition PCBs, the team aims to enhance their suspension system through improved design and force calculations.

Omega Engineering’s collaboration with Carnegie Mellon Racing exemplifies its commitment to STEM education and supporting the next generation of engineering innovators. If you want to acquire automation parts, please get in touch with us here, the distributor for Omega and other leading automation parts brands.