Data and Telemetry Bootcamp Training Material

Changes in Data & Telemetry Technology

As announced in the 2026 Official Rules, Chapter I, this season introduces a refreshed competition format and sets the stage for the next level of Data and Telemetry.

Building on past successes of the Telemetry System for Urban Concept vehicles, the Bootcamps, and the Off-Track Awards, responsibility for Data and Telemetry now shifts to the Teams.

Shell Eco-marathon and Schmid Elektronik aim to support Teams of both vehicle categories in designing their own solutions for capturing data and analysing track performance as we take this journey together.

The new Data & Telemetry Bootcamp will help you adapt to this change.

New Data & Telemetry Off-Track-Award

A. Overview

This Off-Track Award helps your driver and vehicle reach the next level in the Mileage Challenge by weaving data and precision into your strategy. It recognises your competitive edge on-track by rewarding the effective use of race data to optimise vehicle performance, refine race strategy, and improve driving tactics – ultimately enhancing on-track results through better energy and time efficiency.

A data-driven approach allows you to address a well-known multi-objective racing problem by developing an optimised strategy that:

1. Accounts for the straights, slopes, crests, and corners of a track.
2. Balances maximum energy efficiency with minimum lap times.
3. Ensures driver safety in all conditions, including rain and wind.

The referenced race data must come from your own Telemetry System. This can be either an existing one or a fully conceptual design. Assume you receive a Joulemeter, and depending on your energy class, a Liquid Flowmeter or a Gas Flowmeter, with a data API via Bluetooth or CAN (Controller Area Network, M12 connector). Your task is to connect these energy sensors to your onboard computer and IoT platform.

To reflect the new competition format starting with the 2026 season, a new question has been added to the Data & Telemetry award requirements. Answers to the following six questions will be used in judging the submissions:

1. Data Strategy to Achieve the Three Goals
   Given the above goals, what is your overall data strategy, and which parameters related to driver (e.g. weight), vehicle (e.g. speed, energy usage, powertrain condition) and context (e.g. track map, weather data) parameters do you consider relevant for achieving them?
2. Capturing Data with a Telemetry System
   Based on the required data from (i), how would you design your Telemetry System to capture real-time or near-real-time data? What hardware and software concept do you foresee for your onboard computer? Which components could you develop in-house? What specific technology, sensors, or training would you require from Schmid Elektronik to enable you to build your own Telemetry System?
3. Gaining Knowledge from Race Data
   What race-related patterns, insights, and knowledge do you derive from the captured data (ii), and which mathematical methods, algorithms, and data-science techniques (e.g.modelling, simulation, machine learning, neural networks, knowledge graphs) do you use to develop your race strategy (iv)?
4. Data-driven Race Strategy Development
   What is your overall race strategy for keeping your vehicle close to the global optimum under varying driving conditions, while maintaining the three contest goals? How do you use the knowledge from (iii) to make your strategy data-driven, smart, adaptive, and competitive?
5. Driver Performance on Track
   What cues or previews emerge from your strategy (iv), and how do they support your driver’s decision-making and manoeuvres in specific driving situations or edge cases while on track?
6. Qualitative and Quantitative Results Improvement
   How does your data-driven approach (i–v) deliver the best possible on-track performance, balancing energy efficiency, lap times, and safety? How did you address the multi-objective racing challenge? What improvement (in %) do you expect in speed and energy usage? Provide supporting analysis.

 B. Eligibility

To be eligible for this award, the Team must have successfully passed technical inspection.

C. Objective

Teams must answer the six questions and explain how their expected outcomes improve energy efficiency, track performance, and contribute to the overall goals of Shell Eco-marathon. Participants are encouraged to think creatively, explore unconventional ideas, and even pursue disruptive approaches – such as applying information theory, data science, or AI principles to solve challenges.

D. How to participate

Teams wishing to participate must submit design documentation consisting of an executive summary and a technical description covering the questions 1-6.The maximum page count is 10 pages.