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

Truck Boat Tail Folding Seat Bike Rack Goals: Improve highway gas mileage on tractor Goals: Allow people to bring bikes on trains at trailers high traffic times. Description: There is large flow separation Description: In this bike rack the train will be behind tractor trailers. If this can be reduced by outfitted with seats that fold up and a hook that altering the shape of the rear of a truck drag hangs the bike from the ceiling. When no bike Is can be significantly reduced. The truck still on board the seat can ube used by a person as needs to be able to use a standard loading dock. usual. When a bike is brought on board, the It can alter the shape of a truck permanently seat can be folded up, and the bike can be hung but would be good if it could be an add-on to a from the hook in the ceiling. current truck. Pros & Cons: Due to DOT constraints, a truck Pros & Cons: There is little avalibility for us to can be a maximum of 53ft so this cannot retrofit a train. A relatively simple system that currently be applied to full length tractor would be to basic for MSD trailers. Leaves design team many options. Sit on Bike While in Motion Telescoping Bike Rack Goals: Save space on bus/train by using bike as Goals: Increase the number of bikes that a bus a seat can carry and still be able fold away when not in use. Description: Bike will be secured to floor and the person will be sitting on their bike instead Description: Similar to current bus bike racks, it of a seat. 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: Might be uncomfortable to sit. No Pros & Cons: It is similar to current technology security issues. May take up too much space. so it will be easy to implement. Locking mechanisms could be difficult to use. Room in the front of the bus could be limited.

Drawer Rack Riblets on Inner Surface of Pipe Goals: To decrease the amount energy loss caused by drag. 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: Riblet technology will be added to Description: The bikes would be stored parallel the inside surface of the pipe to reduce drag. 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 Pros & Cons: could be too simple. takes up no space when not in use. It allows more bikes in front of the bus. Riblets on Bike Helmet Riblets on SAE Car Goals: Decrease the drag on the RIT Formula Goals: Decrease the drag on a bicycle helmet SAE car. Description: Apply the riblets to the surface of a Description: Apply the riblets to the surface of bicycle helmet in order to reduce the drag. the RIT Formula SAE car in order to reduce the Pros : Measureable results. Clear goal. Should drag of the car. be able to fit in the wind tunnel. Pros: Well defined customer. Measurable Cons: Possible safety issues. Not very complex. results. Clear goal. Group of people who are highly interested in the Formula car Cons: Currently ME only Senior Design project

Hang Bikes Vertically Riblets on Bike Goals: To reduce drag on performance bicycles. Goals: To increase bike storage options on public transportation buses. Description: Investigate ways to reduce drag, specifically though the introduction of riblets to Description: Explore the possibility of adding the bike seat post or other frame members. bike storage space to the back of buses to increase their bike carrying capacity. Pros & Cons: There is a market for performance cycling projects, and turbulators have been Pros & Cons: Uses currently unutilized space to introduced successfully in certain applications. increase carrying capacity. Concerns include Feasibility analysis needs to be completed to safety while lifting and retrieving bikes, as well see if this is applicable to the speeds and scale as damage to bikes swinging and hitting each in cycling. other in transit.