Bialystok University of Technology is renowned for the innovations proposed by student scientific associations under the supervision of leading academics. A racing car, a Mars rover, an autonomous sumo robot and biotechnological recycling have been recognised by the committee of the sixth edition of the competition within the programme “Student scientific associations create innovations” organised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
To build a racing car which, building on the success of its predecessors, will win Formula Student competitions across Europe, several teams of future design engineers are needed. Thus, the team responsible for aerodynamics, supervised by Adam Adamowicz, DSc, PhD, Eng., Assistant Professor at the Department of Dynamic Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, has obtained over PLN 66,000 for the “Design of a mechatronic front wing for a Formula Student racing car”.
– The aim is to build a wing that will adapt to the current aerodynamic demands of the racing car – explains Adam Adamowicz, DSc, PhD, Eng. – Together with the students, we want to develop a configuration that will allow the wing to adjust to the different phases the car goes through on the track. It behaves differently during acceleration, when reaching high speeds or when driving at high speed. The wing will assume a position that minimises drag, and when entering a corner or braking, it will maximise downforce.
Therefore, within the Student Scientific Association Auto-Moto-Club at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in the Cerber Motorsport section responsible for designing and building racing cars, students from various faculties and study programmes at Bialystok University of Technology are involved. One of the teams focuses solely on the engine and powertrain. Under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Jarosław Szusta, DSc, PhD, Eng., from the Department of Construction and Operation of Machinery at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, they will construct an “Innovative intake manifold for a Formula Student racing car with dynamically variable runner length”. Funding: PLN 64,550.
– The intake manifold being developed is an advanced solution combining mechanics, mechatronics, numerical simulations and modern manufacturing technologies – explains Assoc. Prof. Jarosław Szusta, DSc, PhD, Eng., the academic supervisor of this student scientific association group. – The integration of active geometry control with electronic engine management will significantly improve the performance characteristics of the power unit while meeting the stringent Formula Student regulations. The proposed solution eliminates the compromise between torque and maximum power, increases engine volumetric efficiency and constitutes a real step towards intelligent, adaptive intake systems used in modern engine designs.
It is worth noting that the CMS-09 racing car took first place in the overall classification of competitions in Poland and the Czech Republic, and fourth place in Austria. The Cerber Motorsport team has won the Formula Student Poland competition twice, retaining the title for two consecutive seasons.
Designers from the Student Scientific Association of Robotics are also performing excellently in competitions. The SumoMasters section has received PLN 70,000 to develop and implement innovations in the field of mechanical design and electronic systems in autonomous mobile robots.
– We want to modify the front of the sumo robot so that the entire blade is movable, while at the same time allowing the robot to absorb impact – explains Rafał Grądzki, PhD, Eng., from the Department of Dynamic Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology. – In bouts where both autonomous robots come into contact, ours will not bounce back or lift on impact. At the same time, we want to develop universal electronic systems so that we do not have to service five or six different control systems.
It is worth noting that SumoMasters, a section of the Student Scientific Association of Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, were the only team in Poland to win the International All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament in Tokyo in 2017. Recently, their robot Javelin reached the podium at the prestigious Robotex International competition in Tallinn. In 2023, the students took third place at Runibot 2023 in Bogotá, Colombia.
PLN 62,800 will support the Student Scientific Association of Robotics, the Mars Rover Analogues section competing under the BUT Rover Team banner. The students, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Kazimierz Dzierżek, DSc, PhD, Eng., and Justyna Tołstoj-Sienkiewicz, PhD, Eng., from the Department of Dynamic Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, are to design and manufacture prototypes of modified harmonic drives.
– A harmonic drive transmits power to the manipulator – explains Assoc. Prof. Kazimierz Dzierżek, DSc, PhD, Eng. – A standard harmonic drive contains a rubber belt that transmits torque and is most prone to failure. We want to replace the belt with a specially designed gear that will transmit power from two different modules. In short – two different gears will be connected by a single gear, which will result in a difference in rotational speed.
The BUT Rover Team from Bialystok University of Technology and their “126 Spirit” took 4th place in the international Mars rover competition Anatolian Rover Challenge in Turkey in July 2025.
– The participation of the BUT Rover Team in competitions such as the Anatolian Rover Challenge is not only a promotion of Bialystok University of Technology on the international stage, but also confirmation of the high quality of education and the innovativeness of students at Bialystok University of Technology – says Mateusz Dziczek, a student of Automation and Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology.
The Student Scientific Association Bio Tech at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences of Bialystok University of Technology will investigate the application potential of spent culture medium from Chlorella sp. algae and confirm that the medium does not exhibit toxicity towards the test plant, beneficial microorganisms or human cells in vitro, and may serve as a biofertiliser. For this purpose, the students will receive PLN 70,000 in funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
– As part of the project, experiments will be carried out in which toxicity and cytotoxicity tests of the spent culture medium of Chlorella sp. algae will be conducted in various biological models – explains Urszula Wydro, PhD, Eng., from the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences of Bialystok University of Technology. – In addition, a pot experiment will be established in which the culture medium will be used as a biofertiliser in lettuce cultivation, to which isofetamid will be applied.
Due to their very rich chemical composition, including easily digestible proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and mineral salts, algae are a source of biologically active substances important from a nutritional perspective. The medium remaining after algae cultivation may be reused as a nutrient-rich fertiliser or soil conditioner, processed for other agricultural or industrial applications, or recycled for further algae cultivation. The research will also be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć, DSc, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Elżbieta Wołejko, DSc, PhD, Eng.
The winners of the 6th edition of the programme “Student scientific associations create innovations” were selected from among 400 applications submitted to the competition. The Minister of Science and Higher Education approved 120 projects for funding in the total amount of PLN 7,782,781.03.
The list is available on the website: Results of the sixth edition of the competition within the programme “Student scientific associations create innovations”
Student Scientific Association Bio Tech, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć, DSc, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Elżbieta Wołejko, DSc, PhD, Eng., Urszula Wydro, PhD, Eng.
Application potential and safety of use of spent culture medium from algae – PLN 70,000
Student Scientific Association Auto-Moto-Club, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, supervisor Adam Adamowicz, DSc, PhD, Eng.
Design of a mechatronic front wing for a Formula Student racing car – PLN 66,410
Student Scientific Association Auto-Moto-Club, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, supervisor Assoc. Prof. Jarosław Szusta, DSc, PhD, Eng.
Innovative intake manifold for a Formula Student racing car with dynamically variable runner length – PLN 64,550
Student Scientific Association of Robotics (SumoMasters section), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, supervisor Rafał Grądzki, PhD, Eng.
Development and implementation of innovations in the field of mechanical design and electronic systems in autonomous mobile robots – PLN 70,000
Student Scientific Association of Robotics (Mars Rover Analogues section), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, supervisors Assoc. Prof. Kazimierz Dzierżek, DSc, PhD, Eng., and Justyna Tołstoj-Sienkiewicz, PhD, Eng.
Design and manufacture of prototypes of modified harmonic drives – PLN 62,800
Total funding for Bialystok University of Technology: PLN 333,760.00
Author: Jerzy Doroszkiewicz