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Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

Owned by Walter Stadolnik (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 26, 2024 by 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