SAE Internationals Collegiate Design Series (CDS) competitions take students beyond textbook theory by enabling them to design, build, and test the performance of a real vehicle and then compete with other students from around the globe in exciting and intense competitions. The Formula SAE competition prepares undergraduate and graduate engineering students in a variety of disciplines for future employment in mobility-related industries by challenging them with a hands-on, team engineering experience that also requires budgeting, communication, project management, and resource management skills. Students also gain valuable exposure with recruiters from leading companies in the mobility industry to help land their first engineering job after graduation (SAE, 2018).

The competition includes as many as 80 teams from colleges and universities around the United States, as well as several international universities. Four days are devoted to a series of static and dynamic events. Along with this there are design, cost, and business analysis competitions. Being consistent and successful in all aspects of the competition is very important to being a top contender.