Our team is working towards constructing a “Micro Vehicle” to improve on-campus transportation.
Electric Excursion focuses on creating an electric skateboard which will allow students and faculty to move around campus easily and safely. The idea behind this project is to target areas where larger vehicles are not practical due to the cumbersome nature of their size and relative convenience to the user on a college campus.
Our team decided to use a belt drive method to propel the board from the rear axle. Using a belt drive implementation that will be mounted on either the right or left side of the rear axle.
The motor is the electric engine of our design coupled with the battery and Electronic Speed Controller which will give movement to the drivetrain propelling the board forward
A Lithium-Ion battery was chosen for this project due to cost and efficiency. The lifespan is much greater than a traditional Lithium battery and provides and holds enough energy to last the expected distance we intend the board to travel.
The brains of the system that will command the motor to respond to the signal given from the handheld controller and output the necessary power.
The controller was outfitted to fit within the users hand to allow full control over the board whether mounted or dismounted from the board using a dual authentication method. Conjoined with a wrist strap, the controller will tell the ESC if more or no power is to be sent to the motor; ensuring that the user can enjoy a safe and responsive ride.
A switch for the user to turn the system on and off easily. Thus increasing the system stand by time and requiring fewer charges in between operations.
An added safety feature to sound an audible alarm when a hazardous object is approaching the board and is at risk of impacting the trucks, protective housing or motor assembly.
Wheel type is important when constructing a vehicle since it is catered to the terrain of which you will be operating on. The wheels selected for this particular prototype have a hardness of 78a. This means that they are relatively soft, have great traction, are best suited for rough surfaces and can easily traverse over bumps and cracks.
The trucks selected for this prototype are Caliber II trucks. These trucks are highly rated among longboard users and provide a good balance between cost and overall quality.
The grip tape selected needed to provide the rider with substantial traction and prevent slipping when moving and braking. The grip tape selected is a waterproof, bubble free adhesive non slip tape. This was applied onto the surface of the deck which was sprayed with a 3M Super 77 adhesive spray for extra stick.
