The Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc has a limited number of places, due to its popularity early application is encouraged.

Mechatronics in motorsports plays an increasingly important role in achieving competitive advantage within this sport. By enhancing the integration of a vehicle's mechanical and electronic systems you will be able to create intelligent systems capable of adapting to the rapidly changing conditions within the racing environment.

The Advanced Motorsports Mechatronics MSc aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the fundamental scientific, engineering and managerial principles involved in motorsport. The focus is on the “mechatronics” aspect of the discipline, involving the engineering of advanced control systems, multi-domain computer modelling, in-vehicle communication networks, electromechanical and embedded systems, hardware-in-the-loop validation and systems integration.

Overview

  • Start dateSeptember
  • DurationOne year full-time
  • DeliveryTaught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%
  • QualificationMSc
  • Study typeFull-time
  • CampusCranfield campus

Who is it for?

This course aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the fundamental scientific, engineering and managerial principles involved in motorsport. A combination of mechanics, electronics and computer systems, this postgraduate programme prepares graduates for a career in motorsport or high performance engineering.

For those students wishing to apply with a pure science or pure mathematics background or those with limited motorsport experience we strongly recommend our Introduction to Motorsport Engineering short course as a primer for the MSc programme.

Why this course?

Cranfield University has undertaken research, consultancy and testing for the motorsport sector since the 1970s. The University is home to the FIA approved Cranfield Impact Centre and Cranfield Motorsport Simulation which work with F1 and leading motorsport companies.

The MSc in Advanced Motorsports Mechatronics aims to provide you with a sound understanding of the fundamental scientific, engineering and managerial principles involved in motorsport, and their implementation within a high performance technology context. You will cover design, testing and operation of competition vehicles, and related aspects of control engineering, computer modelling, embedded systems, alongside vehicle dynamics, vehicle systems, and management techniques related to motorsport. You will be taught the skills required for the planning, execution and reporting of motorsport projects and to prepare them for a variety of roles in motorsport.

We have an international reputation for our expertise in aerodynamics, CFD, materials technology, including composites, safety of motorsport vehicle structures, power-train development, vehicle dynamics, simulation, data acquisition and electronics, tyre characterisation and modelling. This track record ensures the course is highly respected by the motorsport industry.

As a student, you will benefit from:

  • Practical sessions using Cranfield's facilities and equipment
  • Engagement with motorsport practitioners
  • Motorsport related project work.


Informed by Industry

The course content is informed by industry, by means of our engagement with members of the Cranfield University Motorsport MSc Steering Committee. We are delighted to have an active advisory board containing senior members of the worldwide motorsport industry to advise on course content and connect regularly with students and staff.

Paul Crofts Helix Powertrain - Chief Technologist-Process and Vertical Integration
Chris Aylett The Motorsport Industry Association - Chief Executive
Professor Pat Symonds F1 - Chief Technical Officer
Owen Carless Red Bull Powertrains - Head of Mechanical Simulation
Sylvain Filippi Envision Racing - Managing Director & CTO
Ron Hartvelt One Group Engineering - Managing Director
Stefan Strahnz Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 - Chief Engineer Cost and Commercial Programmes
Christopher Tate Mission Motorsport - Chairman
Neil Spalding Signa Performance, Moto GP Journalist
John Proctor AVL UK - Technical and Operations Director
David Lapworth Prodrive - R&D Director
Gérry Hughes KW Special Projects - CTO
Cristiana Pace E-novation Consulting - Founder
Mike Pilbeam Pilbeam Racing Designs
John Ryan Motorsport UK - Safety & Technical Director
Ian Goddard BWT Alpine F1 - Head of Technical & Innovation Partnerships
Isaac Sanchez Ferrari - F1 Innovation & Special Projects Manager
Dennis de Munck Ferrari - Head of Employer Branding and University Relations
Pete James Lyra Electronics - Founder & Director
Stuart Robertson FIA - Head of Circuit and Rally Safety
Peter Digby BRDC - Chairman
John Grant BRDC

Course details

The MSc course consists of nine one-week taught modules, a motorsport mechatronics group design project and an individual thesis project.

Course delivery

Taught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%

Group project

The purpose of the group project is to allow each you to demonstrate your team working ability in relation to a motorsport relevant area and to communicate their innovative ideas, analysis and conclusions in both written and oral formats.  The group design project develops your resource management skills and improves their business literacy. Individual reflection in relation to their contribution, competencies and peer review complements these areas of personal development. In addition, each student reflects on the economic, legal, social, and environmental context of the group design project.

The annual group design project is supervised by member/s of academic staff. You are expected to hold and actively participate in regular group meetings (at least once a week), producing meeting minutes that include a rating of individual team member’s contribution for the week and attend two formative reviews by the academic panel. You will be asked to follow-up on the panel’s feedback. At the end of the project, each group of students is required to write a project report. There will also be an oral examination of your presentation of your group work.

The group report should be no more than 10,000 words (body text) with all students in the group contributing to the report’s concision and precision. As a group you are required to produce a poster, although this is not assessed. Likewise, the data files you submit will not be assessed. Again, non-assessed, as part of your Cranfield learning experience you will present your work, including poster, at the group design project presentation day. Individually you are assessed on both your individual contribution throughout the group design project and the delivery of a reflective review report that will take into consideration your personal evaluation of your competencies and how these developed during the group design project and the peer review exercise.

Regarding the latter element, you will attend a formative feedback meeting with a member, or members, of the academic team around the mid-point of the group design project. In terms of the individual evaluation, you will then focus on two areas of improvement for the remaining period of the group design project, reflecting on these and your own individual contribution in your written report at the conclusion of the group design project phase.  Within the individual report, you will reflect on the economic, legal, social and environmental context of the group design project.

Individual project

The purpose of the individual project is to allow you to demonstrate your independent learning ability and interest in advancing their knowledge through the pursuit of independent research and/or development work in an industrially relevant area and to communicate their ideas, analysis and conclusions in written and oral formats.

The subject of the thesis is agreed between the student and the academic team. Topics will normally relate to one or more elements of the taught modules with regards to a motorsport engineering or mechatronics technical issue.

On occasion, Cranfield theses have formed the basis of technical articles published in journals such as Racecar Engineering. Below is an example of a fully autonomous small-scale vehicle developed by one of our students in collaboration with a local motorsport company.



Modules

Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.

To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.


Course modules

Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.

Motorsport Introduction

Aim
    As an introductory non-assessed module it sets the scene for both the Advanced Motorsport Engineering and Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc courses, providing the context for motorsport engineering and mechatronics in relation to the sport and the industry behind it. 
Syllabus
    • The Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc and the Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc with reference to its key components: the taught modules, the group design project (GDP) and the individual thesis projects as well as considerations such as ethics, health and safety and the environment.

      • Introduction to aspects of motorsport which will be developed during the course such as the design of competition vehicles.
      • History of motorsport including the evolution of competition vehicles.
      • Competition vehicle categories.
      • Sporting and technical regulations.
      • Library sessions with the Information Team covering qualitative information, referencing, ethics and plagiarism.
      • Careers sessions including CV writing, preparation for interviews and assessment centres, interview techniques, using LinkedIn.
      • Group exercise, ‘The Cranfield Challenge’, which relates to the use of materials and structural integrity.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

  • Describe the elements of the courses in relation to the MSc award. This includes understanding the variety of assessments, the Group Design Project, and the individual research project.
  • Relate the MSc courses to the practice of motorsport engineering.
  • Illustrate the historical development of motorsport and competition vehicles.
  • Assess the design and categorisation of competition vehicles.
  • Evaluate the criticality of the technical and sporting regulations and what these mean to motorsport engineers.

Motorsport Powertrains

Module Leader
  • Professor Matthew Harrison
Aim
    To provide you with a series of learning activities during which you will acquire an understanding of the engineering principles on which engine design and development depend. Some activities will be classroom based, some reliant on group work and some requiring active learning by the student. The course aims to encourage you to acquire skills in information gathering, the processing of information, analysis and communication and these skills will be tested by written assignments.
Syllabus
    • Gasoline engine performance characteristics: performance indices,
    • Idealised thermodynamic cycles and the limits to ideal behaviour,
    • Maximising power output using high engine speeds: thermo-fluid implications,
    • Maximising the air/fuel charge in every cylinder: intake system design, supercharging & turbo-charging,
    • Fuel systems, combustion control and engine management systems,
    • Mechanical design of high performance two and four stroke petrol and diesel motorsport engines,
    • The matching of engine, transmission and vehicle,
    • The design of high performance vehicle transmission systems,
    • Hybrid and electric powertrains as used in motorsport.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

  • Explain what counts as excellent engine performance and how to use engine simulation techniques to find such levels of performance,
  • Test and evaluate the physical processes at work during the preparation of the fuel & air mixture and its eventual combustion and emission with particular reference to high engine speeds,
  • Evaluate the matching of engine, transmission and vehicle chassis for motorsport applications,
  • Appraise the operation of high performance vehicle transmission systems,
  • Examine hybridisation and electrification of motorsport powertrains.

Motorsport Electronics and Data Acquisition

Aim
    • Provides an understanding of the electronic and data acquisition systems that are integral to the modern motorsport vehicle.  Appreciation of principles of data acquisition to “get good data” on track or in test environments.
    • Provides methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of the data acquired, and how this underpins all performance optimisation.
     

Syllabus
    • Electrical circuit issues, sensors, signal conditioning,
    • Sampling issues in amplitude and frequency domain,
    • Data communications on car and test cell,
    • Data processing and analysis techniques,
    • Introduction to realtime software,
    • Practical system packaging,
    • Build of software and hardware in a basic embedded control and data acquisition system.
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

  • Describe the fundamental role electronic systems and acquired data have on and off vehicle throughout motorsport.
  • Design, evaluate and optimise data systems based on fundamental principles of electrical and digital information transfer.
  • Propose and apply suitable data analysis techniques to tackle particular engineering questions in a motorsport context.
  • Analyse data in the context of a chosen field, maximising the result from a particular test (vehicle dynamics used as an example with direct involvement in configuration and calibration of instrumentation on a vehicle for a track test)
  • Evaluate a basic embedded control system.




Motorsport Vehicle Dynamics

Module Leader
  • Professor James Brighton
Aim
    To provide you with fundamental information on vehicle dynamics focussing on limit behaviour with explanations and derivations from first principles, using simplified physical models. To provide experience of a computer based dynamics simulation package of industrial standard, and to provide experimental exercises to illustrate major physical concepts.
Syllabus
    • Minimum time optimisation,
    • Tyre shear force development, measurement and characterisation,
    • Suspension geometry description and analysis – important properties,
    • Steady turning equilibrium states; suspension/chassis interactions; roll angles, load transfers, jacking,
    • Yaw/sideslip handling dynamics; steady turn responses, understeer and oversteer; stability and controllability (a) small perturbations from straight running (b) small perturbations from cornering trim,
    • Limit behaviour and design aspects; differentials and brake balancing,
    • Simulation tools and model building,
    • Vibration behaviour of car and wheels; springs; dampers; track roughness and the use of electro-hydraulic shaker rigs for setup.



Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

  • Appraise the performance limits of a competition vehicle and the sources of such limitations,
  • Evaluate the interactions of competition vehicle and participant and discuss intelligently the requirements on the competition vehicle from a controllability point of view,
  • Distinguish the complex relationships between competition vehicle design aspects and competition vehicle performance,
  • Examine simulation and optimisation methods for improving design and performance.

 

The Business of Motorsport

Aim

    ​​To provide you with a series of learning activities during which they will acquire an understanding of how to apply management techniques to the context of motorsport and thus building an awareness of the specific management challenges faced in this sector. The course aims to encourage you to acquire skills in information gathering, the processing of information, analysis and communication and these skills will be evaluated and assessed by group presentation and by written group assignment.

Syllabus
    • The business environment in general,
    • The business context for motorsport organisations,
    • Managing motorsport businesses strategically,
    • Creating and sustaining competitive advantage in motorsport,
    • Commercial aspects of motorsport management,
    • Marketing and motorsport including branding, media and sponsorship,
    • Financing motorsport businesses and their on-going financial management,
    • Project management and motorsport,
    • Managing technical knowledge and expertise in motorsport,
    • Technology transfer and opportunities for diversification,
    • Appreciate environmental and sustainability considerations where motorsport is concerned.
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

  • Appraise the specific management challenges facing the motorsport sector,
  • Distinguish the motorsport environment and the influences on its development,
  • Assess the potential sources of competitive advantage for an organisation in the motorsport sector and the steps needed to both create and sustain such an advantage,
  • Evaluate the particular issues relating to the commercial aspects of motorsport management. These would include raising and sustaining sponsorship, media relations, raising capital, diversification through technology transfer,
  • Examine the particular issues relating to the management of technical expertise and knowledge in motorsport and its exploitation.



Mechatronics Modelling for Vehicle Systems

Module Leader
  • Dr Stefano Longo
Aim
    • To provide a fundamental understanding of physical modelling applied to vehicles mechatronic systems,
    • To introduce you to modelling techniques, from basic methodology to graphical modelling and practical viewpoints,
    • To illustrate the role of first principle and data-driven modelling.
Syllabus
    • Introduction to mathematical modelling,
    • Modelling from first principle,
    • Newtonian and Lagrangian modelling,
    • Electric circuits and networks,
    • Modelling from data and system identification,
    • Modelling of delays,
    • Block diagram reduction,
    • Powertrain backward and forward modelling,
    • Modelling for vehicle dynamics and tyre-surface interaction,
    • Modelling with Matlab/Simulink.
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

  • Compare and criticise the different analogies that can be made between all system dynamics,
  • Experiment with fundamental concepts of mechatronics systems to design simplified system dynamics models,
  • Evaluate and construct mechatronics models using state-space models derived from system identification, Newtonian equation and Lagrangian equations,
  • Construct state-space equations for the purpose of control system design,
  • Appraise mechatronics models and the simulations results obtained within the context of practical automotive design concepts, performance and constraints.



Advanced Control and Optimisation

Module Leader
  • Professor Daniel J. Auger
Aim
    • To provide knowledge of advanced control engineering theory and techniques and their application to automotive control,
    • To introduce students to the tools and methodology associated with multivariable control design techniques,
    • To provide students with practical experience in designing and simulating advanced modern controllers within the context of multi-domain automotive systems.
Syllabus

    The module will provide knowledge in advanced control design tools and techniques and advance analytical methods in designing multivariable controllers with applications in the automotive engineering area. The theory of the multivariable controls will be introduced and then their use will be illustrated and developed by example applications. The theory and applications will be interleaved with selected associated topics (listed below) as appropriate through the module.

    The material will be addressed theoretically and practically: all lecture-based teaching will be supported by practical exercises using MATLAB and Simulink.

    Prior to the start of the module, you are expected to have reached a high standard of expertise in advanced classical control and the use of MATLAB and Simulink for control system design. As a guideline, you should have met the intended learning outcomes for the module ‘Automotive Control and Simulation’ before commencing this course. Students who have not taken this module should ensure they do sufficient pre-work prior to the module.


    Modelling multivariable systems:

    • Describing multivariable systems using state-space representations,
    • Using norms to describe the sizes and behaviours of signals and systems,
    • Modelling uncertainty, noise and nonlinearities,
    • The Nyquist stability criterion and robustness.

     

    Using optimisation in multivariable control:

    • Representing feedback using state-space techniques,
    • Pole-placement techniques,
    • Optimal control using the Linear-Quadratic Regulator (LQR),
    • Introduction to Model-Predictive Control (MPC).

     

    Estimator design:

    • Multivariable estimator design using pole-placement techniques,
    • Optimal estimator design for linear systems using the Kalman Filter,
    • Introduction to optimal control using Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) techniques,
    • Introduction to nonlinear Kalman filtering techniques.

     

    Neoclassical control:

    • SISO design using the Youla parameter technique,
    • Direct shaping of S(s) and T(s) and the associated stability criteria.

     

    Robust control:

    • H∞ control methods: ‘mixed sensitivity’ and ‘H∞ loop-shaping’,
    • Estimating robust performance using the v-gap metric.

     

    Reference conditioning using prefilters and two degree-of-freedom compensators (covered in outline only).

    Students will be provided with electronic copies of lecture slides, the lecturer’s handwritten notes and computer programs.  Students are expected to complement this with their own notes.

    Recordings of the lectures will not be generally available for this module, though exceptions may be made for students who are unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances that are relevant, unexpected and external. 

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

  • Create theoretical and computer models of multivariable automotive systems suitable for use in control design,
  • Apply different advanced control techniques to automotive control problems,
  • Design control algorithms for automotive systems using MATLAB and Simulink (commercial software packages),
  • Design state estimators for multivariable automotive control systems using established techniques,
  • Judge the suitability of a given control technique to a particular application in the context of automotive control.

Embedded Vehicle Control Systems

Module Leader
  • Dr Stefano Longo
Aim

    Within the context of modern automotive control system, the aim of this module is for you to critically evaluate the different technologies and methods required for the efficient vehicle implementation, validation and verification of the automotive mechatronic system.

Syllabus

    Course content includes:

    • A review of modern automotive control hardware requirements and architectures,
    • The evaluation of current and future vehicle networking technologies including, CAN, LIN, MOST and Flex-ray,
    • The evaluation of control rapid prototyping techniques to design and calibrate the control algorithm,
    • The use of modern validation and verification methods, such as software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop techniques,
    • The role of Functional Safety and ISO26262 within the overall control system life-cycle,
    • The evaluation of the interdependency between software engineering and control system design within the automotive industry including the use of software auto-coding techniques for production and the use of advanced test methods for the validation of safety-critical systems.

     

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

  • Analyse the components of an automotive control systems and its implementation,
  • Design and implement a digital controller,
  • Evaluate the effect of sampling times, communication delays and quantization errors in a feedback loop,
  • Construct efficient Matlab code for data coding/decoding and control algorithm implementation,
  • Appraise the purpose of the ISO26262 functional safety standard and the AUTOSAR standardized automotive software design.

Vehicle Control Applications

Aim

    The aim of this module is to cover a range of applications of Control Theory and Artificial Intelligence techniques in different components of a modern vehicle including engines, electric motors, energy storage, steering, chassis, suspensions, advanced driver-assistance systems, etc.

Syllabus
    • Motor control
    • Engine control
    • Battery state estimation and control
    • Electric and hybrid-electric powertrain control systems
    • Vehicle steering control
    • Vehicle suspensions and chassis control
    • ADAS and autonomous driving
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the physical configuration of a vehicle sub-system and be able to formulate new control design solutions appropriate for integration within a vehicle.
  2. Appraise a set of vehicle performance targets for higher levels of automation and safety, more energy conservation and less environmental impacts and be able to select the most appropriate control methods and design techniques to meet the vehicle specification.
  3. Analyse and evaluate different simulation models including vehicle control architectures.

Accreditation

The Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc is accredited by: 

  • The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
  • Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Institution of Mechanical Engineers logo

Institute of Engineering logo

Your career

Motorsport is a highly competitive sector. Studying at Cranfield will immerse you in a highly focused motorsport engineering learning experience, providing you with access to motorsport companies and practitioners. Our selectivity at course entry combined with world class teaching, facilities and industry networking, means that the great majority of our graduates go into motorsports roles upon course completion. In some instances, job offers are made even in the final months of the course.

Past graduates have taken roles such as:

  • Braking Calibration Engineer
  • Race engineer
  • Motor Control Specialist
  • Electrical and Controls Engineer
  • CFD Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Vehicle Dynamics Engineer
  • Applications Lead Engineer
  • Embedded Systems Specialist (Cyber Security)
  • Applied Controls Engineer
  • Vehicle Software Engineer
  • Software System Engineer/Model Based Developer
  • Simulation Engineer
  • ADAS Systems Engineer
  • Project Engineer for Electric & Hybrid Vehicles

Companies that employ our students include:

  • Sauber Motorsport AG
  • McLaren Automotive Ltd
  • KTM AG
  • Invicta Virtuosi Racing
  • Honda Performance Development, Inc.
  • General Dynamics Land Systems
  • Cummins Inc.
  • Bugatti Rimac
  • AVL Powertrain UK Ltd
  • AVANTIS GROUP

Successful students go on to be part of a global network of engineers and you will find Cranfield alumni working across motorsport and the high performance engineering sector.

Cranfield’s Career Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. Our strong reputation and links with potential employers provide you with outstanding opportunities to secure interesting jobs and develop successful careers. Support continues after graduation and as a Cranfield alumnus, you have free life-long access to a range of career resources to help you continue your education and enhance your career.

How to apply

Click on the ‘Apply now’ button below to start your online application.

See our Application guide for information on our application process and entry requirements.

I feel that the MSc in Advanced Motorsport Engineering at Cranfield was an incredible experience I would not have been able to have anywhere else. I completed my thesis project with Mercedes AMG F1 which has further progressed into a full time job as a Test and Development Engineer.

Jessica Harris, Structural System Engineer