This page will contain a final summary of my capstone project, the electric longboard. It will contain links to many important documents, show pictures of the process, and go over the main takeaways from the overall project.
Final Report
The most important document, this technical report contains most of the core information relating to the project. You can see the report here.
Design Demands
We started this project by defining the need, then creating a list of specifications that we wanted our final prototype to have. We did this by conducting a survey to find what clients found important. This is the list we created.
Need: Design a form of transportation that is cost efficient, quick, and environmentally friendly.
Many people are prevented from purchasing
Demand Specifications:
Maximum cost= 799.99
Must reach speeds of at least 24 mph
Must have interchangeable battery
Must be light enough to carry around
Needs to have fast reaction in remote
Needs to have the fastest and least complicated motor posible
Smooth wheels for a good ride along with smooth trucks to allow for good turning
Design and finished product must pass safety test
Performance:
D- must use handheld throttle control
D- Remote must be wireless
D-Have good bearings in wheels to roll longer and faster
D- long battery life
W- Top speed of at least 24 mph
W- fastest throttle response possible
Materials:
D- light weight for any user to carry
W- Best motor to carry our rider the fastest
D- Bearings to withstand speed of 25mph plus
W- Able to function in any weather (rain, wind, sunshine)
Time:
D- Must be manufactured in less then 18 weeks
W- have enough building product to sell multiple on special order
Cost:
D- must cost for us to build less then $600
W- to sell for more than what we make it for
Manufacture:
D- must use simple enough tools we have in maker spacer or in house
D- Everyone must use skills amongst group to contribute to each build
W- have other people build on assembly line with parts readily available for production
Safety:
D- Must pass standard test for all moving and road worthy objects
W- braking system on remote to lessen chance of accident
Need: Design a form of transportation that is cost efficient, quick, and environmentally friendly.
Many people are prevented from purchasing
Demand Specifications:
Maximum cost= 799.99
Must reach speeds of at least 24 mph
Must have interchangeable battery
Must be light enough to carry around
Needs to have fast reaction in remote
Needs to have the fastest and least complicated motor posible
Smooth wheels for a good ride along with smooth trucks to allow for good turning
Design and finished product must pass safety test
Performance:
D- must use handheld throttle control
D- Remote must be wireless
D-Have good bearings in wheels to roll longer and faster
D- long battery life
W- Top speed of at least 24 mph
W- fastest throttle response possible
Materials:
D- light weight for any user to carry
W- Best motor to carry our rider the fastest
D- Bearings to withstand speed of 25mph plus
W- Able to function in any weather (rain, wind, sunshine)
Time:
D- Must be manufactured in less then 18 weeks
W- have enough building product to sell multiple on special order
Cost:
D- must cost for us to build less then $600
W- to sell for more than what we make it for
Manufacture:
D- must use simple enough tools we have in maker spacer or in house
D- Everyone must use skills amongst group to contribute to each build
W- have other people build on assembly line with parts readily available for production
Safety:
D- Must pass standard test for all moving and road worthy objects
W- braking system on remote to lessen chance of accident
Alternative Designs
We then used a decision matrix to determine which of the options would work best, by choosing several criteria, assigning weights, and scoring each option accordingly. Using this decision process, we determined that concept one was the best option.
Modeling
The next step we took was 3D modeling. We learned how to use Fusion 360, and put together a model of our electric longboard. We also created technical drawings, materials lists, and plans for our prototype build process.
Prototyping
The next step was to prototype. We began by purchasing a battery, ESC, and motor, along with a transmitter and receiver. We began by troubleshooting our motor, trying to get the remote to pair and the motor to spin in the right direction. After several weeks of this, we moved on to the actual build process, when we purchased a longboard, gears, and a belt. We did lots of soldering, organizing, and troubleshooting. We were not able to get everything quite right, but we learned a lot.
We created a presentation, which can be viewed here. |
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Capstone project was a great experience. It was a great way to have a soft introduction to the engineering world, and I gained valuable skills, like 3D modeling, time management, and working with electronics. If you wish to see other information, click this link to our project website.