Design of the Driver's Cockpit for Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV) 2025 Formula Car

Abstract

This paper presents the structural and ergonomic design of the driver’s cockpit for a student formula race car developed for the Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV) Challenge 2025. The cockpit, located centrally within the chassis alongside the engine bay, plays a critical role in ensuring driver safety and comfort during high-speed operation. The chassis was fabricated using low-carbon steel with MIG welding to meet the competition’s material and manufacturing requirements. Driver anthropometric measurements were utilized to inform the initial design, ensuring compliance with dimensional regulations. A complete CAD model was developed using Autodesk Inventor 2024, and a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted to evaluate the structural integrity of the cockpit under a maximum applied force of 3000 N. The analysis revealed maximum deflections of 0.01589 inches along the Z-axis, 0.013 inches along the X-axis, and 0.0035 inches along the Y-axis. These results highlight the necessity for localized reinforcement, particularly at the front and rear ends of the chassis, to enhance crashworthiness and maintain driver protection in impact scenarios.