Together, Fabio and Oliver developed a new steering system for ZUR as part of their joint bachelor’s thesis, including the team’s first in-house steering rack with driverless integration. Moving away from previously purchased components allowed for greater flexibility in design, geometry, and packaging, while also improving performance in the Design event. Their efforts resulted in ZUR’s first direct steering force measurement system, capable of capturing real-time loads during vehicle operation and generating entirely new data.
Oliver had wanted to join ZUR since the start of his studies, but the timing never quite aligned. When his bachelor’s thesis came around, he finally saw his opening. As a design engineer, he had already worked with steering systems professionally, and the topic let him deepen his knowledge in an area he’d always found compelling.The toughest part of the project was implementing strain gauges on the tie rod, since the entire system depended on precise steering force measurements. The process proved far more time-consuming and complex than expected, requiring extensive debugging before the team finally achieved reliable results. The boundary conditions set by both the team and Formula Student regulations added a further layer of difficulty. Oliver describes the development of the steering system as «a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience.» Beyond the technical knowledge gained, he highlights the satisfaction of working on a subject he genuinely cared about – and contributing something meaningful to the team along the way.
