Application Note
Fuelling innovation: Gill’s liquid level sensors power UNLV Rebel Racing team
Driving performance: Gill’s LevelLite sensor in extreme motorsport racing
Background
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) designs, builds, tests, and competes in three international collegiate racing series. One of these is the Baja SAE North America competition, held annually across different locations from May through September.
Founded in 2008, UNLV SAE Rebel Racing tasks students with managing every aspect of the organisation. This includes fundraising, budgeting, vehicle design and testing, competition logistics, and race-day operations. Membership is open to all majors, not just engineering, providing students with valuable hands-on experience that complements classroom learning and strengthen career prospects.
Challenge
A critical part of Baja SAE is collecting data on both the car and driver to better understand performance and identify opportunities for optimisation. Fuel monitoring presents a particular challenge: competition rules prohibit any modifications to the tank or gas cap.
At the same time, Baja SAE vehicles are subjected to extreme conditions – from high vibration to hard landings and airborne impacts – which demand components that are both lightweight and highly reliable.
Solution
The team is currently in the design phase for integrating Gill’s LevelLite fuel sensor. As Baja SAE vehicles endure extreme conditions, the LevelLite sensor is ideally suited, providing continuous, accurate fuel level measurement under even the most challenging racing environments.
In addition, to meet competition restrictions on making any modifications to the tank or gas cap for fuel monitoring, the team is exploring alternatives such as an auxiliary tank adjacent to the main fuel tank that could house the Gill LevelLite sensor.
Mason Durham, Undergraduate Student at UNLV, commented:
“What sets Baja SAE apart is the level of ingenuity required. Teams don’t just assemble cars, they design, produce and build many of the components themselves. In recent years, the role of electronics and data acquisition has expanded significantly, with growing emphasis on not only understanding vehicle behaviour but also measuring and enhancing driver performance. Looking ahead, the team is evaluating other advanced technologies, such as Gill Position Sensors to monitor suspension position and improve overall vehicle insight.”
