Glossary of Terms

Competition Glossary

• F1 in Schools Car: The completed vehicle designed, engineered, and manufactured to compete.

• Fully Assembled Car: The F1 in Schools car with all components, including axles, wheels, and wings, securely attached.

• Body: The main component of the car, which includes the fuselage and nose cone, and is manufactured from the Official F1 Model Block.

• Official F1 Model Block: A block of foam from which the car's body is manufactured.

• No-Go-Zone: A specific volume of space within the model block that must remain untouched during the manufacturing of the car body.

• CO2 Cartridge Chamber: A cylindrical void in the car's body that houses the CO2 cartridge, which propels the car.

• Front/Rear Wing Assembly: A removable assembly that includes both the wings and any supports or connecting components.

• Tether Line Guides: Features on the car designed to guide the tether line.

• Engineering Drawings: Technical drawings of the car that communicate its form, function, and manufacturing requirements.

• Renderings: Images of the car's design.

• Vertical Reference Plane: An imaginary vertical plane at the center of the car, used as a point of reference for measurement.

• Parc Ferme: A secure area where cars are placed after scrutineering to prevent teams from making further changes.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Measures used by judges to evaluate teams and award points.

• Project Elements: The mandatory components of a team's entry, including the car, portfolios, and verbal presentations.

• Scrutineering: A detailed inspection process to ensure cars and components comply with technical regulations.

• DNF (Did Not Finish): A race result for a car that does not complete a full race run.

• False Start: When a car leaves the starting gate before the reaction time timer begins.

• Spirit of the Competition: Acting in a way that respects the rules, competes fairly, and contributes positively to the event.

• Competition Program: The schedule that outlines all judging and competition activities.

• Judging Streams: Parallel judging sessions to ensure efficient and fair evaluation.

• Regulations Classifications: The three types of rules governing the competition: General, Safety, and Performance.

Project Management Glossary

• Project: A temporary endeavor with a specific beginning and end.

• Project Stakeholder: An individual or group that can affect or be affected by a project's outcome.

• Deliverables: The tangible outputs of a project, such as the manufactured car or portfolios.

• Milestones: Significant points or events within a project schedule that indicate key progress.

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): A hierarchical breakdown of the project into smaller, more manageable tasks.

• Scope Creep: The uncontrolled expansion of a project's scope without proper approval.

• Triple Constraints: The three key factors that must be balanced in any project: scope, time, and cost.

Engineering & Manufacturing Glossary

• Computer-Aided Design (CAD): The use of computer systems to create, modify, analyze, and optimize a design. In STEM Racing, this is used to create a digital 3D model of your car.

• Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM): The use of software to control machine tools in the manufacturing process. CAM software uses CAD models to generate instructions for machines.

• CAD/CAM: The integration of CAD and CAM into a single system, streamlining the process from design to production.

• CNC (Computer Numerical Control): An automated manufacturing process where a computer program dictates the movement of factory tools. A CNC machine, like a milling machine, operates using pre-programmed software.

• Milling: A subtractive manufacturing process that uses a rotating cutter to remove material from a workpiece, shaping it to the desired form.

• 3D Printing: An additive manufacturing process that builds a three-dimensional object by adding material, typically layer by layer, under computer control. This is often used for rapid prototyping.

• Rapid Prototyping: The fast fabrication of a physical part or model using 3D CAD data, often accomplished with a 3D printer.