UGM Bimasakti team that will represent Indonesia in the 9th Students Formula SAE Japan (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition receives 250 cc engines from the Union of Automotive Engineers Expert (IATO), Monday (9/5). The provision of assistance takes place in the Mechanical and Industry Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering. The machine assistance is submitted to support the performance of the UGM student-made formula car’s engine that will compete with 84 other teams from around the world from 5-9 September 2011 in Ogasayama Sports Park, Japan.
The submission of machine aid was continued with the signing of cooperation for the procurement of machinery as well as partnership and development of automotive vision between IATO with the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. IATO Executive President, Dr. Gunadi Sindhuwinata, said the Bimasakti team participation in the activities is expected to be able to support the activities of automotive industry in Indonesia in the future. "The important thing is the increasing competence and dedication in developing automotive industry," he said.
Gunadi explains that the machine aid is adapted to the capacity of vehicles in Indonesia, which is 250 cc in average, although the race focuses on the 600 cc engine. "I hope the assembly of Bimasakti formula car can be adjusted to the type of vehicle in the country, because the competition assesses the maximum ratio of fuel usage to mileage, so it is necessary to be really precise and careful with the calculation of the machinery construction,” said Gunadi.
Meanwhile, Non-technical Coordinator of the Bima Sakti team, Andika Rinaldo, said that the 9th Student Formula SAE competition of Japan 2011 is an annual competition hosted by Japan's Society of Automotive Engineers (JSAE) to make formula vehicles with 600 cc engine. In this competition, all vehicles that are contested will be assessed, starting from the preparation of cost analysis, engineering design, presentation, vehicles acceleration, fuel efficiency, endurance, Autocross, and skid-pad.
The Bima Sakti team consists of 16 students of Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, becoming the only team from Indonesia. Until now, the formula car is still in the development process at the UGM automotive engineering repair workshop. The assembly expenditure amounts to 100-150 million rupiah. "Currently, the development process has reached 75 percent. As much as 90 percent of all automotive parts come from inside the country," he added.
According to Andika, the name of the vehicle Bimasakti, was taken from the story of Javanese traditional puppet character, Bima. The name is expected to bring Indonesia’s good reputation in the international arena. "We have a minimum target to reach at least three titles of the 20 titles being contested, as the best vehicle design, best team's website, and best rookie team," he concluded.