Truck Boat Tail Folding Seat Bike Rack Goals: Improve highway gas - - PDF document

Truck Boat Tail

Goals: Improve highway gas mileage on tractor trailers Description: There is large flow separation behind tractor trailers. If this can be reduced by altering the shape of the rear of a truck drag can be significantly reduced. The truck still needs to be able to use a standard loading dock. It can alter the shape of a truck permanently but would be good if it could be an add-on to a current truck. Pros & Cons: Due to DOT constraints, a truck can be a maximum of 53ft so this cannot currently be applied to full length tractor

• trailers. Leaves design team many options.

Telescoping Bike Rack

Goals: Increase the number of bikes that a bus can carry and still be able fold away when not in use. Description: Similar to current bus bike racks, it folds down to add bikes to a rack perpendicular to the bus. The rack is adjustable so more space is added when needed. Pros & Cons: It is similar to current technology so it will be easy to implement. Locking mechanisms could be difficult to use. Room in the front of the bus could be limited.

Folding Seat Bike Rack

Goals: Allow people to bring bikes on trains at high traffic times. Description: In this bike rack the train will be

• utfitted with seats that fold up and a hook that

hangs the bike from the ceiling. When no bike Is

• n board the seat can ube used by a person as
• usual. When a bike is brought on board, the

seat can be folded up, and the bike can be hung from the hook in the ceiling. Pros & Cons: There is little avalibility for us to retrofit a train. A relatively simple system that would be to basic for MSD

Sit on Bike While in Motion

Goals: Save space on bus/train by using bike as a seat Description: Bike will be secured to floor and the person will be sitting on their bike instead

• f a seat.

Pros & Cons: Might be uncomfortable to sit. No security issues. May take up too much space.

Drawer Rack

Goals: Increase the number of bikes a bus can hold and take up no extra space in front of the bus when not in use. Description: The bikes would be stored parallel to the bus. A single rail could be pulled out manually or by a motor from under the bus. A bike would then be secured to the rail by the bike rider. Only one bike could be stored on a rail. Pros & Cons: May have structural issues. It takes up no space when not in use. It allows more bikes in front of the bus.

Riblets on SAE Car

Goals: Decrease the drag on the RIT Formula SAE car. Description: Apply the riblets to the surface of the RIT Formula SAE car in order to reduce the drag of the car. Pros: Well defined customer. Measurable

• results. Clear goal. Group of people who are

highly interested in the Formula car Cons: Currently ME only Senior Design project

Riblets on Inner Surface of Pipe

Goals: To decrease the amount energy loss caused by drag. Description: Riblet technology will be added to the inside surface of the pipe to reduce drag. Pros & Cons: could be too simple.

Riblets on Bike Helmet

Goals: Decrease the drag on a bicycle helmet Description: Apply the riblets to the surface of a bicycle helmet in order to reduce the drag. Pros : Measureable results. Clear goal. Should be able to fit in the wind tunnel. Cons: Possible safety issues. Not very complex.

Hang Bikes Vertically

Goals: To increase bike storage options on public transportation buses. Description: Explore the possibility of adding bike storage space to the back of buses to increase their bike carrying capacity. Pros & Cons: Uses currently unutilized space to increase carrying capacity. Concerns include safety while lifting and retrieving bikes, as well as damage to bikes swinging and hitting each

• ther in transit.

Riblets on Bike

Goals: To reduce drag on performance bicycles. Description: Investigate ways to reduce drag, specifically though the introduction of riblets to the bike seat post or other frame members. Pros & Cons: There is a market for performance cycling projects, and turbulators have been introduced successfully in certain applications. Feasibility analysis needs to be completed to see if this is applicable to the speeds and scale in cycling.