Your donations to Cascade give Nottingham students the opportunity to put the skills they’ve learned during their studies into practice outside of a lecture theatre or lab. The projects are vital opportunities for them to gain experience that will empower them to enter employment or prepare them for post-graduate education.

Manasi Mehta (Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, 2025)

A recently completed Cascade project that exemplified this was Formula Student AI (FS:AI), led by Manasi Mehta (Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, 2025). FS:AI is a national competition that aims to drive a driverless car around the Silverstone racetrack. The project combined cutting-edge engineering, AI, and team collaboration to solve real-world challenges in autonomous vehicle systems.

Describing the reasons behind her Cascade application, Manasi said: “The idea for our project stemmed from a shared passion for motorsport, innovation, and artificial intelligence. We wanted to explore how cutting-edge AI technologies could be integrated into high-performance automotive systems, preparing our team for the rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous and data-driven engineering. This project provided a unique platform to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical, competitive environment while fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and technical growth.”

It was the first time a team from Nottingham had entered the competition. A total of 30 students took part in the project, representing a wide range of disciplines including Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

This interdisciplinary team brought together diverse skill sets essential for tackling the technical and organisational challenges of Formula Student AI. In addition, the team benefitted from support and guidance from university staff, industry mentors, and local engineering communities, who contributed valuable expertise and feedback throughout the development process.

“The university and Cascade played a crucial role in making this project possible,” explained Manasi. “As a first-year Formula Student AI team, we faced significant financial and logistical challenges, and Cascade support allowed us to turn our vision into reality.

“The funding we received was essential to covering the costs of entering the competition, including registration fees, transportation of the team and equipment to Silverstone, and accommodation. We also relied on this support to purchase essential technical equipment for the development and testing of the autonomous vehicle, ensuring we could meet the required safety and performance standards.”

Finally, Manasi had a message to those supporters who made the FS:AI project possible, thanks to their generosity.

“Thank you so much for your generous support. With your help, we were able to give our engineers an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge, real-world engineering project. Your contribution made it possible for us to participate in the competition, develop essential skills, and build a strong, multidisciplinary team.

“Beyond the technical achievements, your support helped foster leadership, teamwork and innovation among our students, skills that will serve them throughout their careers. We couldn’t have done it without you, and your investment has made a lasting impact not just on the project, but on the future of every student involved.

“We are truly grateful for your belief in us and look forward to building on this foundation in the years ahead.”