Because the robots aren’t available anymore, some students had to convert their Bachelor's final project into a theoretical research. Because programming still continues. “We still have our team evening every Tuesday, which takes place digitally. Everyone still works hard so that we can quickly start testing after the crisis is over.”

Despite the disappointments, Tech United still seems motivated, Franklin says. “What I learned via WhatsApp is that morale is still high. I think we are somewhat different from other teams in this regard, since our students don’t work for the team fulltime. Most people work on the robots a few times a week on a voluntary basis, next to all the other things they have to do.”

At Team CASA, the hard work - digitally and from home - continues as well, says Team CASA’s Joline Frens. The corona crisis has comparably little effect on the team, she explains. “Our sector - the built environment - still continues to work, and so do our partners. As a result, we too are less impacted by the crisis, but of course we also realize that it won’t stay this way. Fortunately, our project isn’t based on events or contests, which means that we haven’t lost any motivation over that.” Existing partners and companies continue to collaborate with the team, Frens says. “We do however notice that’s it’s more difficult than usual to find new companies to sponsor us. That makes it harder to make ends meet financially. That’s why we’ve set up a crowdfunding campaign via TU/e’s platform.”

The races in which University Racing Eindhoven (URE) was supposed to take part have been cancelled as well, says team manager Tom Oosterholt over the telephone. That’s only logical, according to him. “The races are an event where many students get together, you could compare it to the summer festivals that have all been cancelled as well.” This is the reason why the organization of the Formula Student decided that the racing teams are allowed to enter next year’s race with the cars they are building now. “Normally, you have to design a new car for each season, but they’ve decided to deviate from that.”

While preparing for next season, the team - a fulltime board of five people and approximately fifty more working part time - will at least try to have the autonomous ‘Driverless mode’ in the URE15 ready. Oosterholt: “We are currently investigating how we might make the parts that can’t be made by TU/e’s Equipment & Prototyping Center by ourselves off-campus, or perhaps have them produced at companies with help from sponsors. So that when campus opens again, we can assemble the car like a do-it-yourself kit and start doing some tests.”

The Blue Jay team relocated all hardware for its drones to a large student room, says team manager Anne Smits. “As far as that is concerned, the development of our new drone will not be hampered.” All events have however been cancelled until September 1, it was announced yesterday. Together with its partners, the team is looking into the options for a 'corona-proof' variant of this year's final presentation, which was set to take place at Brainport Industries Campus on June the 18th.

TU/ecomotive, too, was able to find two temporary locations off-campus, says Matthijs van Wijk on behalf of the team. “There, obviously in accordance with the guidelines of the RIVM, we can continue to work on our car somewhat.” Most of the team’s partners continue to work as well for now, but that did not prevent delay. “Our goal was to unveil Luca at the start of July and then go on a promotional tour through Europe. However, we’ve decided not to go through with that, after consultation with the university. We also expect that the unveiling event can’t take place before the summer holidays. That’s a major disappointment, but we try to make the best of it anyway under these difficult circumstances. Of course, we’re currently looking hard for alternative ways to promote our car and still end the year in a positive way.”