With a primary goal of increasing the points gained for the acceleration event in FSAE preliminary estimations pointed towards decreasing excess tire slip. I conducted research on the various launch and traction control methods, as well as the different ways to model or evaluate their effectiveness. Our team produced a basic python model with weight transfer to simulate an acceleration run to trial different control methods, such as a PID loop, a lookup table, and others. Modeling tire slip seems simple at first glance but many external factors introduce error. The model could be refined to consider those conditions, but real-world test data quickly and effectively allows us to compare different control methods with considerations for those errors. 

Wheel slip is calculated from a high precision Vectornav IMU/GPS unit and resolver feedback. The launch control portion takes commands from the dash to stage a launch and features a simple delay or a time-based torque ramp from a lookup table. The traction control portion reduces the torque commanded from either a PID control loop or a slip % * time lookup table. Both were implemented on our main vehicle control unit and are enabled/disabled by the driver. 

Although the model showed the PID control loop as having the best results, tuning the P, I, and D terms to match the real world’s conditions proved to be much more challenging and inconsistent. The simple delay launch control coupled with the slip % * time lookup table traction control showed the greatest drop of 0.1 seconds in overall acceleration time. Basic tests on a wet skid-pad proved the traction control alone to be effective, but further development is needed to refine its reactions and include other variables such as steering input and individual wheel speeds.