Glossary of Terms
- Walter Stadolnik (Unlicensed)
- Michael Chang
The goal of this page is to explain the meanings behind some of the many terms and acronyms you may hear as a member of NER. The terms are categorized as club-wide, mechanical, or electrical.
Club-Wide Terms
NER - Northeastern Electric Racing! Welcome to the team!
FH+E - Formula Hybrid + Electric. This is the competition we’ve competed in for the past several years.
FSAE - Formula Student Automotive Engineering. This is a competition which we’re planning in competing in with Car 2, in addition to FH+E
FinishLine - The Project Management dashboard developed by the Software Solutions team in order to facilitate project management and provide a centralized location for project documentation.
CR - Change Request. Change requests are a project management tool used to log any change to a project. This includes everything from a delay due to an issue with a design, to stage gating at the completion of a project stage.
Mechanical
PDM - SOLIDWORKS Product Data Management. This software is used for part management, and to help facilitate collaboration on mechanical CAD.
SES - Structural Equivalency Spreadsheet.
FEA - Finite Element Analysis. This is an engineering tool that allows us to evaluate the structural performance of a part.
CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamics. This is another engineering tool that allows us to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of a part.
Electrical
AIRs - Accumulator Isolation Relays
BRB - Big Red Button. These are used to shut down the car in the event of an emergency. The car includes 3 of them, one on the dashboard and one on each side of the car.
BSPD - Brake System Plausibility Device. A system required by FSAE rules which shuts down the car in the event of simultaneous braking and acceleration.
BOTS - Brake Overtravel Switch
MPU - Main Processing Unit.
TCU - Telemetry Control Unit.
IMD - Insulation Monitoring Device. This is a component of the shutdown loop which cuts power to the car if there’s a short circuit between high voltage and the chassis of the car which could endanger the driver or bystanders.
BMS/AMS - Battery Management/Accumulator Monitoring System.
GLV Grounded Low Voltage system - Every conductive part that is not part of the
tractive system. (This includes the GLV electrical system, frame, conductive housings,
carbon-fiber components etc.
Tractive System (TS) - The High Voltage system on the car.
GLVMS – Grounded Low Voltage Master Switch.
ESF - Electrical System Form.
SMD – Segment Maintenance Disconnect.
SSOK – Safety Systems OK.
TSAL – Tractive System Active Lamp.
TSMP – Tractive System Measuring Points.
TSMS – Tractive System Master Switch.
Additional Resources
Page 78 in the FH+E Rules includes a useful glossary of electrical terms