E-Assist Human Powered Vehicle
Problem statement
Even in today’s world of globalization, there are underdeveloped corners of the globe where human powered vehicles are not an accessible form of transportation. People carrying necessities like food and water on foot for miles are burdened with an incredible amount of labor that can be mitigated if given a sustainable form of transportation. In addition, people who are physically handicapped and unable to ride a two wheeled bicycle, or people who live in the city and don’t need a car to get groceries could switch to an e-assist bike platform that would increase mobility and create a greener living space. As a result, the HPVC competition was created to foster design and innovation of practical human powered vehicles to be used as alternative daily transportation. The e-Assist Human Powered Vehicle Club calls on our team to pursue this challenge by designing a new bike that improves upon the current ones while following the HPVC competition rules and handbook. As innovative as the previous designs are, there’s much room for improvement to make them a viable option for those most in need. The current platforms include wide steering that doesn’t tilt the wheels properly, a chain with multiple bends, and a belt tensioner issue that both cause efficiency losses. These issues hinder the rider’s ability to have a safe, worry-free ride. Our goal is to tackle each of these issues directly by decreasing the steering radius, calibrating the steering tilt, and reducing chain efficiency loss. The steering radius needs improvement to qualify for the HPVC competition, as well as for increased rider safety. The steering tilt issue has been causing premature damage to the current vehicle’s wheels and tires due to forces imposed on the sidewall when turning. This problem could be prevented if the tires were perpendicular to the ground as intended, which can be seen in traditional bicycles [1]. In the words of our client, “I 100% support attempting tilt steering.” Additionally, the current chain bends and hits the ground under load, which decrease efficiency and safety while increasing wear and tear. These chain issues lead to further rider fatigue creating a less enjoyable ride while also preventing the vehicle from achieving its full potential. By improving these current pitfalls, we aim to increase the vehicle’s ability to win in competition while also stepping closer to becoming commercially competitive with other human powered vehicle designs.
Team members
Hunter Kent – leader
Caleb Triebel – communicator
Atulonio Nil Basu – accountant
Joseph Latawiec – admin
Client
Teekay Kowalewski
UW-Madison Human Powered Vehicle Team