Ergonomics
The main goal of the ergonomics is to ensure a smooth ride for all riders regardless of height and weight. The design competition requirements are as follows.
- Riders must be able to exit the vehicle in 15 seconds or less.
- A 4 or 5 point safety harness must be used.
- The harness must withstand all reaction forces.
To ensure the ergonomics of the frame design, a fully-posable dummy was constructed in SolidWorks according to the size of our largest potential riders.
A goniometer was utilized along with an electric exercise bicycle to determine the optimal knee angle for comfort and power generation. It was determined that 15˚ was ideal.
The image to the left shows the optimized seat design with an angle of 30˚ from the horizon.
Ensuring rider safety is a critical component of the design. Members were added to the frame to prevent the rider from impacting the ground in the event of a rollover as shown in the image to left.
Suspension System
The ultimate goal for the suspension system is to increase rider comfort while maintaining strong electrical connections throughout the duration of the 2.5 hour endurance race. Design considerations are as follows.
- Minimize added weight
- Minimize added cost
- Keep center of gravity low