Group 19 - Ford F-150 Power Wheels: Gate 1
Contents
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Work Proposal
Introduction
The Work Proposal listed below describes an overview of our (group 19’s) product, the duration of disassembly, the duration and reassembly of the product, the challenges we encounter after inspecting the initial product, as well as competencies and shortcomings of each group member.
Required tools
All of the tools listed and possibly more if necessary can be attained from the tool cabinet in 621 Furnas Hall.
- Phillips Head Screwdriver- Initial inspection of the F-150 indicates that most of the components are screwed in placed by #8 x ¾’’ screws. A Phillips head screwdriver can simply be used to unscrew for disassembly and re-screw them in place for reassembly.
- Power Drill- A power drill may be used in place of a screwdriver to decrease the time of dissection since it mechanically rotates the screws out of place at a faster rate and can do the same to put screws back in.
- Hammer- A hammer may be used to force certain components apart when physical strength in insufficient
Duration of Disassembly
The manual states to set aside at least 60 minutes for assembly. Our group has come to the conclusion that the disassembly of the F-150 may take about twice as long as the predicted assembly, around two or three hours. This is because we also need to label, categorize, and photograph all of the components. The lab may also be busy, making it difficult to work and move around. If extra time is required for dissection our group will organize extra dissection meeting times to compensate.
Duration of Reassembly
Our group has concluded that the duration of time for reassembly is around the predicted time in the manual, one hour. This time may vary depending on if any challenges are encountered. Such challenges include missing group members or if the lab is busy at the time. A major problem that we may run into is that we may not know how to reassemble a certain component. If any challenges may arise, our group will meet them with our best effort.
Challenges Encountered
- According to our initial inspection, the Power Wheels F-150 is too large to transport easily by hand. This means our group may run into some time constraints because we can only dissect the product in the lab.
- Some of the plastic components are forced together so manual strength may have to be used to take them apart.
- Components not easily visible may be difficult to dissect and reassemble
Shortcomings
- No one has any experience with writing wikis. It may require extra time for the wiki manager to learn how to use the wiki.
- One group member commutes and one group member lives on south campus while the rest live on north campus. This means our group may have trouble meeting with each other.
Capabilities
| Group Member | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Craig Freier |
-Microsoft Office Certified |
-Sub-par English skills |
| Douglas Long |
-Proficient CAD skills |
-Improving presentation skills |
| Bradley Huynh |
-Excellent English skills |
-Improving time management skills by keeping track of deadlines |
| Emmanuel Obunadike |
-Mechanically Inclined |
-Poor communication and presentation skills |
| Jeevan Suparmaniam |
-Good dexterity |
-Poor fabrication skills |
| Adrian Wong |
-Highly organized |
-Punctuality issue |
Management Proposal
Introduction
The Management Proposal below contains group 19’s plan to manage its work. This includes our point of contact and communication, an outline of our meeting schedule, projected timeline and Gantt chart, individual group member roles and responsibilities, and our plan to handle group conflicts.
Point Of Contact/Communications
Craig Freier – Group 19 Leader, Email: craigfre@buffalo.edu
Douglas Long, Email: dslong2@buffalo.edu
If phone numbers are wanted, please email Craig or Douglas due to privacy issues.
Meeting Schedule
Group 19’s primary meeting time is currently scheduled to be every week on Tuesday at 5 PM. The designated meeting place is at Capen Library in a group study area. Although this is our preferred meeting schedule, conflicts may arise, meaning the schedule may be subject to change. If this may be the case, our group will discuss through email a more preferable time for everyone. Also due to time constraints, multiple meetings per week may be necessary to meet deadlines and gates. Based on the purpose of our meetings, another area besides Capen Library may be necessary. The group leader will organize any altered or extra meetings at any altered meeting areas.
Projected Timeline
| Start Date | Duration of Days | Due Date | ||
| GATE l | 9/21/2010 | 10 | 10/1/2010 | |
| Work Proposal | 9/21/2010 | 5 | ||
| Management Proposal | 9/21/2010 | 2 | ||
| Product Assessment | 9/24/2010 | 7 | ||
| GATE 2 | 10/1/2010 | 26 | 10/27/2010 | |
| Product Disassembly | 10/1/2010 | 16 | ||
| Causes for Corrective Action | 10/14/2010 | 8 | ||
| Dissection Plan | 10/14/2010 | 13 | ||
| GATE 3 | 10/27/2010 | 21 | 11/17/2010 | |
| Summary of Components | 10/27/2010 | 7 | ||
| Product Analysis | 10/27/2010 | 10 | ||
| Solid Modeling | 10/7/2010 | 30 | ||
| Engineering Analysis | 11/3/2010 | 7 | ||
| Design Revisions | 11/10/2010 | 7 | ||
| GATE 4 | 11/17/2010 | 21 | 12/8/2010 | |
| Product Reassembly | 11/17/2010 | 15 | ||
| Product Reassembly Assessment | 11/28/2010 | 10 | ||
| Design Revisions-System Level | 12/1/2010 | 7 | ||
| GATE 5 | 12/8/2010 | 9 | 12/17/2010 | |
| Update Wiki Page | 9/21/2010 | 87 | ||
| Final Revisions | 12/8/2010 | 9 | ||
| Presentation |
Group Roles
| Group Member | Role | Secondary Role |
| Craig Freier | Group Leader Lead Presenter |
Assistant Solid Modeling Expert |
| Douglas Long | Solid Moleding Expert | Assistant Group Leader |
| Bradley Huynh | Wiki Manager | Photographer |
| Emmanuel Obunadike | Primary Dissector/Assembler | |
| Jeeevan Suparmaniam | Assistant Dissector/Assembler | Co-Presenter |
| Adrian Wong | Record Keeper | Wiki Contributor |
Group Responsibilities
Group Leader
- Organize information and meetings
- Keeps group members on task
- Primary point of contact
Presenter, Co-Presenter
- In charge of presenting the final report to the audience
Solid Modeling Expert, Assistant
- Creates CAD drawings of the product
- Becomes proficient in CAD software (Pro-Engineer)
Wiki Manager, Contributor
- In charge of creating and handling the wiki page
- Writes and organizes all the information on the wiki regularly
Photographer
- Takes pictures and videos of the product before, during, and after the dissection of the product
Primary Dissector/Assembler, Assistant
- In charge of understanding the assembly and disassembly of the product
- Handles the process of dissection and reassembly
Record Keeper
- Takes notes of the meetings and dissections
- In charge of categorizing the components of the product
Conflict Resolution
If a group conflict or issue may arise, a meeting will be planned in order to discuss a solution. The group leader or assistant will be the primary mediator of the conflict. Such conflicts include but are not limited to poor punctuality, not “pulling one’s weight”, or last minute contributions. If the conflict is not resolved, the professor will be contacted for discussion by the group leader.
Preparation and Initial Assessment
Introduction
Our group has done a thorough analysis on the Power Wheels Ford F-150 without doing any dissection whatsoever. The goal of this phase is for our group to become familiarized with the product and gather enough information in order to do the actual dissection successfully. Various profiles and aspects of the vehicle are described in this section.
Development Profile
The Power Wheels Ford F-150 was developed and first available in late 2004. The development took place in East Aurora with a close working relationship with Ford, since it is a licensed product. Like a real car, it has been updated and re-released since then.[1]
In 2004 there were not really any economic concerns. In fact, the United States registered stronger than expected growth in the final three months of that year. This brought the economy’s growth rate to 4.4 percent, which was the best showing in five years.[2] This may have caused Fischer-Price to not really take the price of the product into account, which is 350 USD. Global concerns that may have affected it’s develop include the styling of the product. The Power Wheels Ford F-150 was designed to look like the actual Ford F-150 truck. The image of this vehicle is a rugged, powerful all American truck. The Power Wheels vehicle was said to have monster traction and be able to go on rough terrains go along with the tough persona of the real car.
The vast majority of this product is sold in the United States but there exists a small quantity available in Canada and Mexico. The intended impact of the Power Wheels Ford F-150 is to provide an entertaining mock vehicle for a child. This product is also one of the first Power Wheels that was intended to be able to stand up to rough terrain riding.
Usage Profile
The Fisher-Price Ford F-150 Power Wheels is intended to be an outdoor recreation toy vehicle for children of young ages. It was designed to mimic the Ford 150 Truck in attempt to bring enthusiasm to the children and arouse their creative mind when riding or “playing” with the vehicle. The F-150 Power Wheels was made to be for home outdoor use that a parent would purchase for their children. But specifically this design of Power Wheels was different from the other models in that the F-150 was a more rugged and multi-terrain vehicle, that can drive on mud, grass, gravel, and mulch. This product must be able to keep the attention of the children riding it and be a desirable toy of the kids in order for it to get a good amount of use by the children, which would make it worth the price paid by the adult in the end. But also this product must perform other tasks such as: being able to assemble without difficulty by the buyer, having a good battery life, having a reasonable charge time, easy maintenance, and also being safe for the child to use. Parents would not want to purchase a toy vehicle that looked unsafe to drive or had dangerous elements such as sharp parts, or faulty breaking system or too fast of a driving speed. But this certain F-150 Power Wheels backs up the safety of the product with a high speed lock-out and Power Lock brakes.[3]
Energy Profile
The Power Wheels F-150 uses a 12 volt lead-acid rechargeable battery with a built-in thermal fuse, which is contained in the hood compartment of the vehicle.[4] In order to power the vehicle, the battery must be charged initially for 18 hours using the 12 volt charger that comes with the vehicle. The manual also recommends charging the battery for at least 14 hours after each use and no longer than 30 hours. The charger is plugged into an electrical outlet which allows current and electrical energy to flow from the charger into the battery. The negative to positive electron flow is then reversed when electrical energy is applied to the battery. This in turn causes the power to be restored.
The F-150 has electric wiring that runs from the battery to the accelerator pedal. When the pedal is pressed down by the force from a child’s foot, current is sent to the motors in the rear wheel axle. The motors create a rotational force on the rear axle which causes to the rear tires connected to the axle to rotate forward. The vehicle then moves forward with kinetic energy. The vehicle also contains a shifter that has a low speed, high speed, and reverse setting. Depending on what the shifter is on, the motor either rotates the tires at slower revolutions per minute clockwise, faster rpm clockwise, and counter-clockwise. A rotational force can also be applied to the steering wheel connected to a steering shaft to turn the front wheel axle and steer the vehicle. The F-150 also uses four C alkaline batteries to power the radio located in the dashboard. The batteries’ chemical energy is converted in electrical energy to power the radio.[5]
Complexity Profile
The F-150 power wheels by Fisher Price is made with extremely complex systems, each system consisting of even more complex components that work together. Systems such as shafts and belts, electric circuits, hydraulics, and many more work together to make this power wheels. Approximately 40 or so main components were used to make up this product. [4]
| Part Number | Component |
| 1 | Chassis |
| 2 | Cargo Bed |
| 3 | Hubcabs (2) |
| 4 | Steering Wheel |
| 5 | Seats |
| 6 | Steering Wheel Covers |
| 7 | Hood |
| 8 | Long Seat Belt |
| 9 | Short Seat Belts (2) |
| 10 | Rear Wheels (2) |
| 11 | Front Grille |
| 12 | Grille Support |
| 13 | Steering Column |
| 14 | .25 x 2.85'' pin |
| 15 | Steering Column Cap |
| 16 | 12 Volt Charger |
| 17 | 12 Volt Battery |
| 18 | Wire Clips (2) |
| 19 | Windscreen |
| 20 | Side Mirrors(2) |
| 21 | #8 x 3/4'' Screws (19) |
Each of these components is relatively simple. However, the systems that they make up are fairly complex. For example, a steering wheel on its own is simple enough, or a drive shaft or brakes for that matter, but when they come together to coordinate the wheels and activate the brakes, it suddenly becomes way more complex. One would have to start thinking about how to fit all that controls into an easy to reach as well as in an intuitive position at the driver’s seat. The same person would also have to worry about how to make it easy to service from the outside while making sure that the shafts doesn’t come in the way with the other systems at the same time. If that wasn’t enough, these systems have to withstand outside forces and physical abuse while maintaining their functions. For example, the shafts must not drop off when the vehicle is rammed into a wall.
Material Profile
| Materials Easily Visible | Components Containing Material |
| Hard Plastic | Main Frame LED Cover Seatbelt Clasps Steering Wheel |
| Nylon | Seatbelt |
| Stainless Steel | Screws |
| Materials Not Easily Visible | Components Containing Material |
| Hard Plastic | Battery Cover |
| Rubber | Wire Sealant |
| Adhesive | Back-side of Stickers |
| Lead Based Acid | 12 V Battery |
| Wire | Wires |
| Stainless Steel | Battery Spring Holster for Radio |
User Interaction Profile
The Ford F-150 Power Wheels toy truck is one of the excellent pieces produced by the Power Wheels. First off, the construction is very robust like all F-P Power Wheels vehicles and this model is quite bigger than the other models. It is also wider, taller and longer and it has much more clearance
underneath. The truck bed is for carrying supplies. It is a two-seater vehicle and is specially designed for children ages three to six as the
maximum weight it can support is 130 pounds (65 pounds per passenger). It gives a sensation of driving a real truck for children as it operates
with a steering wheel and foot pedal. This truck is powered by a special rechargeable 12 volt battery which can last for 3 hours of continuous
riding if fully charged.
Apart from this, there are certain safety features available in this truck. To make it safe for new drivers, there is a
safety mechanism fixed to it to suppress the maximum speed of the truck to 2.5 mph. Once the driver is familiar with the truck and is capable of handling the truck well, the safety mechanism can be removed which allows the truck to reach a maximum speed of 5 mph. This can
save unnecessary accidents. The vehicle also features a specially designed safety braking system; when the foot is removed from the pedal, the
truck stops automatically. The truck even comes with fake seatbelts (Velcro). This is to plant the seed of safety at an early age. The seat is
adjustable to accommodate the child as they grow and it makes it convenient for some kids of bigger size.
This truck is packed with realistic features. It can entertain the passengers with its real FM radio. It has a working tailgate. To make it is more interesting, the truck includes great details such as chrome accents , hot foiled badges, and dashboard storage. There is also a battery meter which is a four light display (green to red) that allows the user to be aware of the "gas" level. The Ford F150 can also perform on all types of surface, advertised as "monster traction". Above and beyond, the only problem with the truck is that the wheels are a bit noisy on concrete surfaces since they are hard plastic. The plastic wheels also can give a little of a bumpy ride.
The Power Wheels Ford F150 does require assembly. However, since the instruction are very clear and concise, it is very easy to assemble the vehicle. The truck is also very easy to be maintained. The user just has to recharge the battery. Other than that, if an appealing look is needed, the user can just wipe the body of the truck with a wet cloth. In view of the fact that the F150 is nicely finished out, it looks close enough to the real thing, and the children feel like they are driving a vehicle rather than riding on a toy.[3]
Product Alternative Profile
Peg-Perego John Deere Turf Tractor
Advantages
- Detachable trailer for carrying and transporting
- All-terrain tires
- 2-speed and reverse gears
Disadvantages
- Only suitable for one person (driver)[6]
Injusa Phantom Racer Truck
Advantages
- Styled like a sporty ATV - aesthetically pleasing
- All-terrain tires
Disadvantages
- Produced by a Spanish company - may be hard to obtain
- Only one speed gear
- No storage space[7]
National Products Ltd. Dual Passenger 4x4
Advantages
- 2-speed and reverse gears
- Drop drown tailgate for storage
- All-terrain tires
- Musical sounds and indicator lights on dashboard
Disadvantages
- Produced by a Hong Kong company - may be hard to obtain[8]
Product Comparison
All three alternative products and the Ford F-150 Power Wheels are are similar in the sense of being a mock truck with all-terrain purpose tires. All vehicles also run on a rechargeable 12 volt battery. The F-150 has a top speed of 5 miles per hour, which is the same top speed for the Dual Passenger 4x4. The Phantom Racer and Turf Tractor have a top speed of 4.5 miles. All vehicles with the exception of the turf tractor are able to hold the driver and a passenger. Also all vehicles with the exception of the Phantom Racer have 2 speed gears and a reverse gear. The Phantom Racer does not have a cargo or storage space either, which the other products do have. The F-150 is unique in that it has a working FM radio in the dashboard. The only product that can come close to that feature is the Dual Passenger 4x4 which can produce fake musical sounds from the dashboard.
Price Comparison
| Product | Price |
| Ford F-150 Power Wheels | 350.00 USD |
| Peg-Perego John Deere Turf Tractor | 275.00 USD |
| Injusa Phantom Racer Truck | 469.00 USD |
| National Products Ltd. Dual Passenger 4x4 | 249.99 USD |
References
- [1] Reynolds, Jeff. Fischer-Price Representative.
- [2] www.voanews.com, 27 September 2010
- [3] Fischer-Price Website, 25 September 2010
- [4] Fisher-Price. F-150 Power Wheels Manual Model K8285. 2007.
- [5] www.howstuffworks.com, 28 September 2010
- [6] www.toyrus.com, 28 September 2010
- [7] www.electric-scooters-galore.com, 28 September 2010
- [8] National Products Ltd. Website, 28 September 2010
