St Flannan’s students finish in pole position

SIX St Flannan’s students are hoping to take pole position in the Formula 1 In School’s Technology Challenge.
Three first year and three Junior Certificate students form the team the Fire Dragons who have built a Formula 1 car from start to finish.
The team is made up of Norbert Rosik, Christopher Ogdonna and Brendan Golden who are all Junior Certificate students. They are joined by first year students Eric Mullally, Jack O’Dea and Tim Jansen. They beat off tough opposition from other schools, as well as another team, Speed, from their own school, at the regional finals earlier this month in Cork Institute of Technology.
The F1 project was undertaken in co-ordination with the University of Limerick’s engineering and aeronautical departments.
Science teacher at St Flannan’s College, Michael Hogan explained that this is the fifth year of the competition, which attracts more than 90,000 students, has been run in Ireland under the guidance of the Irish Computer Society (ICS) in partnership with Discover Science and Engineering. The challenge the students face is to design, build and ultimately race model Formula 1 cars that are powered by compressed air canisters.
Each of the model cars measure approximately 25cms long and student teams compete against each other in a national championship to determine the best-engineered and fastest car in Ireland.
Essentially each team builds a 1/20th-scale F1 car capable of travelling at over 110km/hr – using advanced 3D design software, automated manufacturing technology, with plenty of scope to add in unique styles on the cars.
F1 In Schools is a unique technology challenge that enables second-level students to get their hands on the latest technology from the worlds of engineering and manufacturing
The team’s car is now complete and they are currently in the process of designing a website to tell the story of their F1 car and to promote the challenge.
“So the students are also learning about website design too, a skill which will prove useful to them in the future,” the teacher said.
“It’s full steam ahead now to the finals in Griffith College at the end of April. This is a huge deal for us all who are involved. It’s the first year the school has entered the competition, so we feel it’s a great achievement to be in the finals. Unfortunately our two teams didn’t get through. Speed’s design was great too, but basically Fire Dragon’s car won three of its four races on the track, while Speed drew them all, so it came down to it, Fire Dragon went through to the finals. We can’t win them all,” Michael added.
He highlighted the complexity of what these young science students have undertaken. “Aeronautical students at third level design a small plane in third year of their course, using CAD. But the students here take it a step further and have to design, construct and have a car that actually goes, which is very challenging for such young students”.
He runs an afterschool science club in the school on Wednesday afternoons that students attend on a voluntary, extra-curricular basis.
“One of the first year students had been on a science programme over the summer where he had heard about the F1 in schools project. From there we got involved and it’s been a wonderful project for us all,” he said.
Michael said that one of the things that impressed the judges was the design of Fire Dragon’s car and the fact that they won three out of four of their race.
“The students put carbon dioxide cylinders in the back of the car and they shoot them down the track at very high speeds, two at a time. So the cars are physically raced, which means they have to be mechanically and structurally strong enough to withstand the speed. This is all pretty advanced stuff for these students, essentially applying science and making it more interesting and relevant to them. It is a wonderful challenge to be involved in,” he added.
Six other schools will be up against St Flannan’s in the national final at junior level on April 29. They are: Rossa College, Skibereen, County Cork, De La Salle College, Macroom, County Cork, St Cillians from Ballinasloe, County Galway, Presentation College, Carlow, St Colman’s, Claremorris, County Mayo and O’Fiach College, Dundalk, County Louth. A further 27 teams will compete in the finals at senior level.
For now parents and staff are helping to fundraise for the project. One parent is organising a wine and book club afternoon in her house. Further information on how to support this fundraiser is available from St Flannan’s College.