Founding Partner Denford Limited, the world’s leading supplier of software, hardware and Race and Test Systems for the prestigious global education initiative, the Formula 1 in Schools STEM Challenge, has introduced an innovative deceleration system for the official F1 in Schools race track.
The Denford Car Deceleration System has been developed following extensive research into the physics of dissipating energy, with the Denford design engineers creating a new piece of equipment to improve on the current system of towel buffers. The design process incorporated a review of industry standards used in the production lines of manufacturing plants for items such as drink cans, and these techniques were used as the blueprint for the new system.
The new Denford product is a series of mounted brushes that is designed to slow the F1 in Schools car at the end of the race track without inflicting any damage on the often fragile protrusions of the model, especially the front wing and nose cone.
Simon Moorhouse, Managing Director at Denford explains, “As the F1 in Schools challenge has grown exponentially and now runs in over 40 countries, we’ve been developing the hardware infrastructure to grow with it. The initiative has introduced new rules and regulations in recent years that have led to students designing more delicate and complex front wings and nose cones, and we noticed that the original deceleration system sometimes didn’t perform to our high standards. We surveyed the schools and teams, which led to Denford developing this new device. It’s been really well received in trials, so we’re now making it available to all schools and teams worldwide.”
The lightweight, yet strong, aluminium structure sits neatly over each lane of the F1 in Schools track and features a series of angled brushes that catch the F1 in Schools car and stop it within a few centimetres. Priced at £575, the Denford Car Deceleration System can be purchased directly from Denford.
Denford is the founder and sponsor of Engineering in Motion, the organisation behind the successful F1 in Schools programme, the fast growing Land Rover 4×4 in Schools Programme and the Jaguar Primary School Challenge. The company has a comprehensive portfolio of hardware and software used by schools for these engaging educational initiatives that enable students to put their classroom learning into practical, fun and exciting projects. CNC Routers, Milling machines, Lathes, 3D printers and laser cutters suitable for use in the education environment are supplied by Denford, as well as a number of bespoke items, including the F1 in Schools race tracks and new products such as the Car Deceleration System.
