This website is for Team 13's Engineering Project.
Progress Reports
1) Dear Raja Tadepally,
I am emailing you to confirm that I am the Group Leader of Team 13.
My Team consists of these individuals, including myself:
Jonathan Kingery, (815) 575- 2824, 81camaro@comcast.net
Mark Klein, (815) 271- 1715, mdklein1991@yahoo.com
Paul Kostock, (773) 316- 7308, pkostock@gmail.com
Joseph Lewis, (847) 754- 1567, Jlew369@sbcglobal.net
Larry Lewkowicz, (773) 727- 3577, larryl321@live.com
2) Dear Raja,
this week my team and I found out we need to start working on our proposal and web page. Were going to learn how to make a webpage and inquire further specification about the proposal from the TA's.
Larry Lewkowicz
3) This week, we have created a website at www.bestprojectever.yolasite.com
We have also completed our first proposal and posted it on the website.
4) This week we're putting the finishing touches on our second draft of the proposal.
First Proposal
UEET 101
Reverse Engineering and Product Analysis of a Nanotube bike
Team 13
Jonathan Kingery
Mark Klein
Paul Kostock
Joseph Lewis
Larry Lewkowicz
Abstract:
The goal of this project is to select a type of sporting good and analyze it using product dissection methodology. The application of Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial Engineering in the design of the selected product will be analyzed. Upon completion of the analysis, the team will propose potential improvements on the design of the product. Team 13 has selected the Nanotube bicycle as our target product.
1. Introduction:
The chapters 2, 3, and 4 include analyses of the different fields of electrical, mechanical, and industrial engineering used in the Nanotube Bike. Chapter 5 is a summary of what we have done in this project, it is a critique of our findings, and the benefits of our project on the community.
Mechanical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The mechanics of a Nanotube bike are abundant. The bike is made of many parts. The frame of the bike is made of a single piece of carbon nanotube and each part of the frame is called the head tube or forked tube, top tube, seat tube, down tube, top stay, and bottom stay. Unlike normal bicycles, these are all made of a single piece of carbon nanotubes. The wheels are made of a hub, the spokes, the metal rim and the rubber tire. The cranks and pedals are for you to push down on with your feet to keep moving. The brakes, consisting of the actuators on the handlebars, the brake cable, the brake calipers and the brake pads, make the bike able to stop. The chain and gears, consisting of the front chain wheels, the rear freewheel, the front and rear derailleur, the shift levers on the handlebars and the cables, transfer the energy you exert from your feet into usable energy to move the bike forward.
Electrical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The Nanotube Bicycle requires no electricity or electrical engineering.
Industrial Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The main industrial engineering aspect of the bike is its light weight construction allows for a smaller amount of energy to be used. Also, the seat is placed quite high and the handle bars are very low. This conforms to the posture on assumes while riding a bike. Thus, this design provides maximum ergonomic comfort.
In Conclusion
We have found this Nanotube bicycle to be the best bike possible for riders. Mechanically speaking, the bike weighs as little as possible, while still including all necessary components of the bicycle. While it is the lightest, thus the fastest bike out there, the carbon nanotube design provides also the strongest bicycle frame available.
Proposal Second Draft
UEET 101
Reverse Engineering and Product Analysis of a Nanotube bike
Team 13
Jonathan Kingery
Mark Klein
Paul Kostock
Joseph Lewis
Larry Lewkowicz
Abstract:
The goal of this project is to select a type of sporting good and analyze it using product dissection methodology. The application of Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial Engineering in the design of the selected product will be analyzed. Upon completion of the analysis, the team will propose potential improvements on the design of the product. Team 13 has selected the Nanotube bike as our target product. The object of this project is to analyze the uses of carbon nanotube technology in bicycles. The effect of carbon nanotube technology is that is solves two problems; weight and durability. This technology makes the bike frame much stronger and durable. Also, since carbon nanotubes are much lighter than steel, the bike weighs less and therefore is capable of faster acceleration. It is plain to see hoe carbon nanotube technology will enhance the sport of bicycling forever.
1. Introduction:
Bicycles have been around since around 1817. The original design was a device made of completely wood. As time progressed, the bicycle has evolved in many ways. For instance, bicycles today are made out of aluminum or steel for added strength. Now, as we move into the future, nanotechnology will further evolve the bicycle.The chapters 2, 3, and 4 include analyses of the different fields of electrical, mechanical, and industrial engineering used in the Nanotube Bike. Chapter 5 is a summary of what we have done in this project, it is a critique of our findings, and the benefits of our project on the community.
Mechanical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The mechanics of a Nanotube bike are abundant. The bike is made of many parts. The frame of the bike is made of a single piece of carbon nanotube and each part of the frame is called the head tube or forked tube, top tube, seat tube, down tube, top stay, and bottom stay. Unlike normal bicycles, these are all made of a single piece of carbon nanotubes. The wheels are made of a hub, the spokes, the metal rim and the rubber tire. The cranks and pedals are for you to push down on with your feet to keep moving. The brakes, consisting of the actuators on the handlebars, the brake cable, the brake calipers and the brake pads, make the bike able to stop. The chain and gears, consisting of the front chain wheels, the rear freewheel, the front and rear derailleur, the shift levers on the handlebars and the cables, transfer the energy you exert from your feet into usable energy to move the bike forward.
Electrical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The Nanotube Bicycle requires no electricity or electrical engineering.
Industrial Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The main industrial engineering aspect of the bike is its light weight construction allows for a smaller amount of energy to be used. Also, the seat is placed quite high and the handle bars are very low. This conforms to the posture on assumes while riding a bike. Thus, this design provides maximum ergonomic comfort.
In Conclusion
We have found this Nanotube bicycle to be the best bike possible for riders. Mechanically speaking, the bike weighs as little as possible, while still including all necessary components of the bicycle. While it is the lightest, thus the fastest bike out there, the carbon nanotube design provides also the strongest bicycle frame available.
Proposal Final Draft
Abstract:
The goal of this project is to select a type of sporting good and analyze it using product dissection methodology. The application of Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial Engineering in the design of the selected product will be analyzed, as will marketing and ethical/environmental considerations. In addition to analysis, we provide suggestions for improvement at the end of each section where appropriate. Team 13 has selected the Nanotube bike as our target product, specifically the range of designs offered by the Swiss company BMC (http://www.bmc-racing.com/en/us/bikes/), who manufactured the first wholly nanomaterial bike frame used in the Tour de France in 2005 (http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/tech/22597). The object of this project is to analyze the uses of carbon nanotube technology in bicycles. Carbon nanotube materials improve bicycle performance in two key areas: weight and durability. This technology makes the bike frame much stronger and durable. Also, since carbon nanotubes are much lighter than steel, the bike weighs less and therefore is capable of faster acceleration. We will make clear how carbon nanotube technology can be utilized to great effect for sport, commuter, and leisure riders.
1. Introduction:
Bicycles have been around since around 1817. The original design was a device made of completely wood. As time progressed, the bicycle has evolved in many ways. For instance, bicycles today are made out of aluminum or steel for added strength. Now, as we move into the future, nanotechnology will further evolve the bicycle. For the past several years, many bicycles made primarily out of traditional materials have incorporated increasing numbers of nanotube components. Carbon nanotube design has now evolved to the point where it is possible to construct an entire bicycle frame out of nanoengineered carbon fiber. The chapters 2, 3, and 4 respectively include analysis of the different fields of electrical, mechanical, and industrial considerations influencing the design of the Nanotube Bike. Chapter 5 and 6 will address marketing and ethical/environmental considerations. Chapter 7 is a summary of what we have done in this project, it is a critique of our findings, and the benefits of our project on the community.
2. Mechanical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The mechanics of a Nanotube bike are abundant. The bike is made of many parts. The frame of the bike is made of a single piece of carbon nanotube and each part of the frame is called the head tube or forked tube, top tube, seat tube, down tube, top stay, and bottom stay. Unlike normal bicycles, these are all made of a single piece of carbon nanotubes. The wheels are made of a hub, the spokes, the metal rim and the rubber tire. The cranks and pedals are for you to push down on with your feet to keep moving. The brakes, consisting of the actuators on the handlebars, the brake cable, the brake calipers and the brake pads, make the bike able to stop. The chain and gears, consisting of the front chain wheels, the rear freewheel, the front and rear derailleur, the shift levers on the handlebars and the cables, transfer the energy you exert from your feet into usable energy to move the bike forward.
The basic mechanical design of the bicycle is almost two centuries old, and the primary improvement cutting edge racing bycicles make over those of a decade ago come in the form of aerodynamic design, miniturization and vibrational stability. From the large “big wheel” style bicyles of the nineteenth century, subsequent iterations of frame design have sought to bring the rider lower to the ground and encourage a sleek “head down” posture that reduces wind resistance. The BMC designed nanobicylces as pictured on their website generally feature handlebar sets that are below the plane of the bicyle seat, encouraging the rider to lower his head and upper body to a point level with or even below his hips.
Also apparent when comparing bicycles over time is that they've steadily been getting smaller. This is primarily a weight consideration, as a smaller bicylce requires that the rider exert less force to accelerate, decelerate, or maneuver it and expend less energy to maintain forward propulsion. This also has the secondary benefit of making the bicylce more effectively portable. While of little concern to professional racers, amateur racers or individuals who ride for more practical concerns will likely appreciate a design that is easier to transport, carry over difficult terrain, and store when not in use.
The BMC designed bicycles also incorporate a number of mechanisms for shock absorbtion and vibrational control. One disadvantage of a carbon nanotube frame as compared to steel or aluminum, is that the more rigid nantube material will not absorb shock and vibration as readily, potentially resulting in a bumpier, less pleasant ride for the cyclist. BMC designs feature a system of pivots at various points on the frame to act as shock absorbers (http://www.bmc-racing.com/en/us/bikes/technology/innovation-features/).
3. Electrical Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The Nanotube Bicycle requires no electricity or electrical engineering. As the nanotube racing bicycles currently in production are designed to be as light and maneuverable as possible, the inclusion of any sort of electronic sensors or output devices would potentially add counterproductive weight and bulk to the design. Bicycles designed for recreational and commuter cyclists could include things like headlights, heart rate monitors (such as those often found on stationary bikes), or even GPS navigation. One possible electrical improvement that might benefit competitive cyclists alongside other riders would be the inclusion of an electronic stability control system as is commonly found on automobiles. A system that could detect the cycle's current momentum, direction and vertical alignment and help the rider remain upright in difficult situations could provide benefits to both safety and performance.
4. Industrial Engineering Aspects of Nanotube Bike
The main industrial engineering aspect of the bike is its light weight construction allows for a smaller amount of energy to be used. The fact that the frame of the bicycle can be constructed as a single continuous piece, rather than welded together, could reduce the complexity (and hence increase the efficiency) or the production line. Also, as mentioned, the seat is placed quite high and the handle bars are very low. This conforms to the posture on assumes while riding a bike. Thus, this design provides maximum ergonomic comfort.
5. Marketing Considerations
As with most nanotech consumer goods, the high R&D costs and relative absence of economy of scale generated efficiencies makes it difficult to price the nanotube bicycle at a point where it could be competitive with previous generation technologies in a mass market setting. A glance at BMC's current price list reflects this reality (http://www.bmc-racing.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/Preislisten_Kataloge/Flyer_0910_Pricelist_Euro.pdf). Their cycles are priced at an average of about 1,000 EU (roughly 1500 dollars). For a consumer who isn't either blessed with inexhaustible financial resources or burdened with a need for cutting edge technology, a $1500 bicycle will likely seem to be a poor value when one can acquire a functional racing bike of made of aluminum, graphite, or other suitable last generation materials for less than a fifth of that. Compounding the problem, the long lifespan of a well designed bicycle means a casual cyclist can often acquire a serviceable bike for free or nearly so from friends, garage sales, and sites like Craig's List (www.craigslist.org/ ) or Free Cycle (www.freecycle.org/ ). Even a dedicated amateur racer (such as a triathlon competitor) may be reluctant to abandon his current bike while it remains in good condition.
This means a successful marketing strategy pretty will by definition probably be a target market strategy. In this light, BMC's current focus on the specialty racing culture is probably appropriate. With this in mind, a promotional strategy that relies on endorsements from professional racers and proven success in high-profile races such as the Tour de France would be a good way to attract these types of consumers. An promotional focus would be on courting the good graces cycling websites and online hobbyist groups. It is essential to develop a reputation as the top line standard in the market in order to justify the high price point in the minds of consumers.
In this strategy sales would take place largely in specialty stores. The relative lack of these types of shops in the US (where competitive cycling isn't a terribly mainstream interest) might also suggest a focus on internet sales. The small size, light weight, and dissassemblable nature of the nanotube bicycle would make shipping costs fairly negligible (especially compared to the high cost of the product itself), while a decrease in the channel length could make up for a portion of the production costs. There will still be a definite need to maintain a presence in the brick and mortar world where potential consumers can see and touch the bikes. The smartest strategy would probably be to dictate as much as possible relative price parity between physical and internet retailers. Aggressively competing with or undercutting the prices of the specialty shops (who are probably already operating on a fairly small profit margin) could sour a necessary relationship, but pushing internet sales as a convenience available to potential consumers who happen to live far away from existing vendors could create a sizeable and profitable secondary market for nano bicycles.
As the technological and production costs go down, it might be feasible to market nano bicycles for recreational and commuter cyclists. Many of the features that make these bikes attractive to racers would also present real value to other types of cyclists. The ease of acceleration and propulsion that maximize speed for competitive cyclists would also make riding simply less labor intensive for people looking to get from point A to point B in an urban setting. Being able to more easily carry his vehicle up and down stairs or fit it onto public transportation would be a clear plus. A recreational cyclist could toss a compact nano bicycle in his trunk or back seat on his way out to the trail, and then store it in a closet when he gets back home. While it's not clear that there's currently a lot of price elasticity among these consumers, demographic trends suggest that the near future will see an increasing return to urban living styles (http://www.builderonline.com/infill-development/housing-migrates-back-to-cities.aspx?rssLink=Housing+Migrates+Back+to+Cities). This trend could eventually increase the appeal in consumer's minds of a high end bicycle; as a replacement for the automobile, or as a vehicle for exploring wilderness settings as an escape from denser residential living.
6. Ethical/Environmental Concerns
Many aspects of the nanotube bicycle suggest it poses little danger, and some potential benefit to the environment. The light weight of of the bicycle suggest that it can be produced and transported at lower energy costs, reducing its carbon footprint as compared to other bicycles. Bicycles are by nature fairly durable goods, and the high durability of carbon nanotubes seems likely to only amplify this tendency. A nanotube bicycle will likely be used for years before being replaced, and even then stands a good chance of being resold or handed down rather than ending up in a landfill. To whatever degree the introduction of nanotube bicycles increases the ease and efficacy of cycling as an alternative to fossil-fuel powered transportation, it can have a clear positive impact on the environment.
That said, there is some concern about the carcinogenic properties of carbon nanotubes themselves. Structurally, long thin carbon nanotubes bear clear similarities to asbestos, and studies have shown that, if ingested, they can have similar carcinogenic properties (http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v3/n7/abs/nnano.2008.111.html). It seems possible that the same design elements that increase durability and reduce wear in finished nanotube products might prevent the nano bike from releasing carcinogenic fibers in the same way that asbestos insulation does, but this is only speculation, and even if true would still leave questions about the danger to factory workers from chronic exposure . Further study seems warranted. In the mean time, precautions should be taken to protect the workers involved in production of nano bikes and other nanotube goods from potential exposure hazards.
7. In Conclusion
Taken as a whole, the benefits of the nanotube bicycle are clear and, with the exception of cost, the downsides are minimal. Lightweight, durable materials combined with an aerodynamic shock absorbing design make a bicycle capable of generating maximum speed at minimal work with a fairly high degree of comfort. Successful efforts to reduce the production and technological costs of these bicycles and definitively quell doubts about the potential toxicity of their materials could lead to nanotubes becoming the standard material for bicycles of all kinds.
