World-leaders in gas measurement and control solutions, Chell Instruments, have stepped in to provide the University of Austin’s Longhorn Racing, with their latest pressure scanner to support development of their Formula SAE racing car.
Having received the latest nanoDAQ-LTS-16 and a quick start cable from Chell Instruments, academics from Longhorn Racing’s aerodynamics team can gather better and more precise results from their wind tunnel testing.
“We’re thrilled by the support of Chell in providing this new technology that will allow our aerodynamics team to begin collecting valuable data. The support from Chell will open the door to new insights that were previously unattainable, enabling us to push the boundaries of what our car can achieve on the track” says Liam Cosgrove, Aerodynamics Advisor at Longhorn Racing.
Longhorn Racing is a student-led team that bring together engineers at the University of Austin to apply their knowledge to build the ideal race car.
In recent years, the team have experienced significant success in the Formula SAE competition. This has also led to a growth in membership, with the team now involving over 100 students across a wide range of majors.
Historically, Longhorn Racing has faced challenges when attempting to gather quantitative data to access and improve their car’s aerodynamic performance.
By using the lightweight nanoDAQ-LTS-16 pressure scanner to measure air pressure across components such as the front wing, rear wing, sidepods and floor, within their wind tunnel and on-track testing, the team can make better design decisions.
“Longhorn Racing are a fantastic team of aspiring engineers and academics that have delivered exceptional results in the Formula SAE competition. When we discovered the challenge they were facing, we were excited to provide the technology needed to help them drive forward their vehicle design” says Jamie Shanahan, Director at Chell Instruments.
For over 40 years, Chell Instruments have been providing pressure, vacuum and gas flow measurement equipment. Their products serve a wide range of industries, including aerospace, pharmaceuticals, energy, and motorsport.
In motorsport, Chell’s technology plays a pivotal role in wind tunnel testing, where it helps assess the aerodynamic properties of vehicles, helping engineers refine performance, enhance cooling and improve handling characteristics.
Chell Instruments collaborates with top Formula 1 teams, providing cutting-edge equipment and expertise to help their clients reduce drag and increase down force in their race-winning cars.
“At Chell, we are always looking for ways where we can’t support the next generation of innovative engineering minds. We’re really excited to see our nanoDAQ-LTS-16 put to good use by the Longhorn Racing team and we hope it helps provide the extra tenths of a second they need to top the leaderboards in the 2025 Formula SAE competition!” concludes Jamie.
For more information on Longhorn Racing, visit https://www.longhornracing.org/
For more information on Chell Instruments and their work in motorsport, visit https://chell.co.uk/specialisms/automotive-motorsport/
