News
Exploring automotive innovation: Meet Timothy Frank
MEET OUR WORKING STUDENTS
2024 / 07 / 26
JOURNEY TO MUNICH
Timothy arrived in Munich in 2016, eager to delve into the world of automotive engineering. He pursued an apprenticeship at MAN Truck & Bus while simultaneously studying for his Bachelor’s degree at Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences. This dual commitment allowed him to gain both practical experience and academic knowledge. During his studies, he was also a part of municHMotorsport, where he worked on the design and layout of the wheel package, focusing on lightweight construction.
JOINING DEEPDRIVE
Timothy joined DeepDrive in the autumn of 2022, following a recommendation from Tobiy, who was our working student at the time. The interview was conducted in a distinctive setting, namely the camping ground adjacent to the team tent during the Formula Student Germany Competition. Timothy was drawn to the dynamic and collaborative environment, which he found reminiscent of his previous experience with municHMotorsport, but with a more professional edge.
After some time at DeepDrive, Timothy left temporarily to pursue a study abroad programme at the University of Florida in July last year. He returned in February this year, eager to continue contributing to DeepDrive’s innovative projects and to start working on his master’s thesis. He was happy to come back and immerse himself once again in the dynamic environment at DeepDrive.
CURRENT ROLE
Currently, Timothy is involved in his master’s thesis at DeepDrive, focusing on the speed strength of the CSD rotor. Given the high rotational speeds of DeepDrive’s Central Drive motors, ensuring the stability and integrity of the rotors is critical. Timothy’s task is to design a sleeve that secures the magnets on the rotor, preventing them from detaching at high speeds. He is simulating the optimal specifications for this sleeve, including the stresses, strains, and deformations it must endure.
COMPANY CULTURE AND FUTURE GOALS
Timothy appreciates the dynamic and evolving culture at DeepDrive, which encourages continuous learning and problem-solving. He is optimistic about the future of the company, acknowledging the challenges ahead but confident in the team’s ability to overcome them through rigorous testing and innovative solutions. Timothy is particularly excited about the potential efficiency improvements that DeepDrive’s motors can bring to vehicles, making them more sustainable and efficient. He believes that the technology has a great future, although it still requires a lot of work and testing to solve current problems challenges and bring the motor into series production.
Timothy collaborates closely with his mentor, Alex, our Co-founder and Chief Engineer, and his colleague, Pit. He deeply values the collaborative and supportive environment at DeepDrive, where he feels comfortable asking questions and tackling complex problems together.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Outside of work, Timothy enjoys staying active by going to the gym and cycling. He loves meeting friends and going to the cinema every few weeks. He also likes travelling whenever possible.