What are the benefits I look forward to from the CAPS program?
Outside of the incredible freedom CAPS gives to dive into a great passion of mine and focus all of my energy on achieving an ambitious goal to be proud of for the rest of my life, I see CAPS as one of the best learning opportunities posed to me up until now. Simply in regards to my engineering education and experience, I am excited for my capstone project to give me a deeper appreciation for a design and build engineering project. Additionally, I look forward to more specifically, getting a better understanding of electrical technology in terms of batteries, motors and power supplies (motor controllers) and the related mechanical gear train through having to evaluate many different, seemingly viable, options to create the best product as possible. From just considering this aspect of benefit from CAPS I will benefit greatly.
Why is this a worthwhile project for the CAPS program to accept?
The knowledge gained of a real world design process and environmental and economical advantages or disadvantages by converting a gas powered motorcycle to electric is of extremely high value. From completing the project I will learn how to address a wide variety of engineering problems in both the design and build stages of the project. To create a viable product of such a scale it is necessary to determine performance specifications, meaning what i want my product to be able to do, which then helps to determine components such as which motor to get based off of the power output, among other specs, that is needed. I will also have to confront the issue different performance trade offs since the fastest, lightest, cheapest, motorcycle is not possible to build. Additionally, I will learn how to solve issues that arise in the building process that were not foreseen in the design stage. Gaining such insight into problem solving specifically in the world of engineering not only prepares me for my intended undergraduate major of mechanical engineering, it makes me a better problem solver, applying the same philosophies to all fields. Furthermore, after the project I will be able to evaluate the environmental and economical benefits or disadvantages of electrical drive systems compared to fuel based systems. I will learn whether electric vehicles are actually more environmentally friendly and if so by how much (emissions are reduced or energy is saved) by comparing my motorcycle to a similar gas powered motorcycle. I will also be able to determine the economical benefits or disadvantages also by comparing my product to a similar (in terms of speed and range among other specs) gas powered motorcycle.
I will use this gained knowledge and try to spread it as far as possible through my project website, my presentation and possibly making videos and posting my project to one of the many electric vehicle conversion forums. I will share the many lessons learned and the limitations and benefits of converting gas driven systems to electric using my motorcycle as an example. I will be able show that converting to electric is a viable option or reveal its flaws upon the completion of my project.
Delineating my research paper and project
Paper: Research the environmental and economic advantages or disadvantages of electric vehicles compared to gas. The total energy systems involved and how efficient both gas and electric powered vehicles as well as how much both energy systems pollute on average. Also determining the cost of electric or gas vehicles is better to travel under a variety of situations given speeds and distances for each trip.
Project: Convert a motorcycle to run on electricity and discover the hardships that arise from this particular type of engineering project.
What is my background in my area of research?
My more formal introduction to engineering began when I took my first engineering class at north freshman year which was Robotics I and II. In these classes I began to learn about the engineering design process and attempted to apply it to whatever project we were working on. Be it a dodgeball playing bot to a robotic arm that comes out of a box to give fist bumps. I continued with the Newton North engineering program taking higher courses, and learning the drafting software Solidworks to make designs before building the physical project. From these courses I have learned how to use many tools needed for making and assembling parts such as drill presses, metal band saws, and hand controlled mills among others. Furthermore, I have learned that every project will take longer than initially thought. A number of aspects will not turn out as thought and extra time is always needed to be planned in order to finish a project in time. Most of the lessons I have learned were greatly reinforced during last year’s honors engineering class in which my project was an electric go-kart. There were many times when two parts did not attach as expected or I would find out that a part I was relying on such as the motor were not actually available to me. By January I have set aside time to calculate the range and speed of the go kart given specs of the motor and drivetrain and finally hook up the drivetrain to test what the actual results are. This will give me an idea of what differences and surprises there are for my capstone project preparing me for what design specifications I will need.
In preparation for build the motorcycle, I have also been looking at different electric vehicle forums such as http://www.evalbum.com/ and reading the book Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel. The book and forums give many different examples of all sorts of electric vehicle conversions and advice from struggles faced in past projects. These project descriptions also give many insights into what to look out for when selecting vehicles to convert or “rolling chassis” and when deciding between different drivetrain specifications based on what the application of the vehicle will be.
Who am I turning to outside of the CAPS advisors for help?
In order to complete my capstone project, I will need both a space to work in and tools, as well as guidance from people who have experience with engineering and motorcycles. For space There is an area in my garage I could build in or at my father’s work at Boston University, there is an area which also has all my required tools. In terms of guidance, My father and his colleague Doug Foss are quite experienced with the engineering design process, as well as building physical vehicles (Mr. Foss has particular experience with that). Furthermore, I have reached out to a past Caps student, Kenny Sanders and his father, who is quite experienced with motorcycles and and modifying them. Kenny’s father has offered guidance and possibly even tools, which is extremely helpful as he runs a motorcycle salvage yard
What is the scope/timeline of my project?
My project is fairly large however, through a well planned schedule and enough organization to keep all aspects of the operation running smoothly, the project can be completed in 18 weeks. There are two main aspects of my project that can be worked on in parallel. The first is the physical project which includes two components. One is to identify three commercial electric motorcycles which has achieved similar design objectives to my own and study their component specs. In parallel there are five steps which are as follows: determining the design specs, followed by procuring the components, prototyping, assembling of complete motorcycle, and lastly problem solving any issues that arise. To initiate this building process there are three main functional requirements that will determine the key components of the motorcycle. Meeting my range objective depends largely on the batteries in their power output, total energy, and weight specifications. Secondly, to meet my speed objective, I will need to engineer a drivetrain that needs the right power output on my motor as seen in its torque-speed specifications. Lastly, in order to safely control the drive system and my motorcycle as a whole, I will need an appropriate motor controller that can safely handle the high current and voltage flowing from the batteries to motor. While I am designing and building the physical project I am able to work on my research figuring out what the actual benefits or disadvantages and to what extent, an electric vehicle has over conventional gas powered vehicles both environmentally and economically. Being able to work on both of these aspects of my project simultaneously and doing preparatory research now will allow me to complete my entire project within the allotted 18 weeks.
How will I know my Success?
I will know my success when I have achieved three main goals. The first is to build a strong argument, based upon research research from a wide variety of sources, determining whether or not converting vehicles to run on electricity is an advantage economically and environmentally and to what extent it is or is not. Secondly, I will know I have succeeded if I am able to evaluate design trade offs effectively to create a product that best fits my needs. Finally I will know I have succeeded if I can produce a reliably running motorcycle or at least have completed a viable design and initial prototype of it.