Group 5 - Motorized Scooter (Goped)/Gate 1

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Contents

Gate 1

Project Management: Request for Proposal

Work Proposal

In order to properly reverse engineer our product, the Goped, one of the most important parts is going to be documentation. To document the disassembly process the steps of disassembly will be written down and pictures of each step will taken. This documentation will not only aid in writing a report but also help in the reassembly process. The component that seems like it’s going to be the most time consuming to dissemble is the engine, which is also the most complex component on the Goped. The dissembly will start at the front of the scooter and finish at the back, separating parts, and taking dimensions. Small parts are going to be placed in bags, along with all forms of fastener to ensure that parts are not lost during the disassembly process. Various tools will be required for the disassembly, as well as the reassembly of the scooter. Small components will require either, a small socket wrench or a Phillips head screw driver. While removing the air filter to simulate air cleaner maintenance, it was found that the carburetor was held to the engine with two Phillips head screws. The engine shroud is also held on with a few Philips head screws. The wooden deck is secured to the frame by a set of four Allen head screws. The brake calipers are held to the fork with a small hex head, requiring a small socket wrench. The spark plug also will require a socket wrench. As the engine is the most complex component of the Goped, it will require many different tools to disassemble. Some of the tools necessary include:

  • C-clip Pliers
  • Piston Ring Compressors
  • Valve Spring Compressors
  • Torx Wrench Bits

Additionally, new hardware, such as gaskets, will need to be purchased in order to properly reassemble the engine. The disassembly time for the Goped frame and all of its mounted components is estimated to be approximately one hour. An additional two hours will be required for the disassembly of the engine.

Management Proposal

To accomplish all the tasks detailed in the work proposal meetings to assess project progress will take once a week:

  • Tuesdays at 3:30 pm in the Greiner Hall Study Lounges

At these meetings tasks that need to get accomplished will be discussed and assigned to group members; the different gates will also be assembled at these meetings. For tasks that require at least three people to work on, there can be another formal meeting at least once a weekend based on group member availability, wherever the task can be accomplished most easily.

Group roles are to be as follows:

  • Matthew Adam:
    • Wiki Manager- Post information to the wiki as well as putting the page in the proper format.
  • Josh Friedman:
    • Meeting Recorder- Writes down the developments of all meetings.
    • Communication Liaison- Will be the point of contact of our group.
  • Bryan Kurdziel:
    • Project Manager- Organizes and runs group meetings, and verifies that all members are working on and complete their assigned tasks.
    • Component Documenter- Will take pictures of all parts and properly label each part.
  • James Rogers:
    • Technical Expert- Provides the group information about the Goped and take lead on the dismantling of the Goped.

Product Archaeology: Preparation and Initial Assessment

Development Profile

The Goped was developed in 1985 by Steve Patmont who four years later would come to form Patmont Motor Werks. The product was designed to be sold in the United States, namely in California where it was developed solely with recreational purposes in mind. Around this time the economic climate in America was positive and consumers had more money for recreational items and activities. The Goped is described as being "inspired and designed to capture the fun, free and trend-setting spirit that is the very essence of the individualistic lifestyle".

Usage Profile

The purpose of the Goped is to be used as means of inexpensive transportation over relatively short distances. For example, the Goped has no place being used to travel for someone who commutes from the suburbs to the city, but for someone who lives and works in the same city it is a great way to effortlessly and quickly get to where they need to go while simultaneously avoiding the traffic and congestion associated with the use of an automobile. It can also serve as means of recreation and hobby; simply put, personal transportation devices, such as Gopeds, are fun to ride. The Goped appeals to a wide range of recreational consumers, from children who can use it to ride to their friend’s house down the street, to the experienced tinkerer, who might take it apart and reassemble it with upgraded performance parts. Therefore, the Goped can be considered both a product that can serve home uses as well professional uses.

Energy Profile

The different types of energy used in the Goped are mechanical, chemical and electrical. Energy is imported into the system though the fuel tank which provides the product with most of the energy the Goped needs. In order to start the Goped, the product needs to be pushed. This in turn moves the pistons, which pushes air and gasoline into the valves. The mixture is then ignited by the spark plug, moving the pistons and propelling the Goped forward. This process converts electrical energy from the spark plug and the chemical energy from the gasoline into heat, which is then converted into and mechanical energy by the engine.

Complexity Profile

There are several components that this scooter makes use of, not including the individual components that make up the engine.

This includes:

  • Brakes
  • Ignition
  • Fuel system
  • Throttle
  • Platform
  • Steering
  • Frame
  • Kickstand
  • Wheels

  • Figure 1. Front Brake Assembly

  • Figure 2. Handle Bars with Throttle and Brakes in View

  • Figure 3. Two-Stroke Motor with Fuel Tank, Intake and Spark Plug in View

Most of the components are comprised of a few sub-components, usually less than five. For example the braking system as seen in Figure 1.1 is a simple caliper controlled by a lever on the handle bars, the axles are both held in place with nylon locking hex nuts, and there is no transmission system for RPM reduction. The component interactions are also simplistic, transferring the necessary signals in one or two interactions. A prime example of this is the front brake which is operated with a single lever connected to the calipers.

Material Profile

The visible materials on the Goped are steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, Dacron cord, and rubber. While most of what makes up the Goped is actually visible, it is suspected that the engine, which contains parts that are not clearly materials, contains the similar materials, for example the most likely material for the engine block would be aluminum, due to the small size of the component.

User Interaction Profile

The user uses a pull start to warm the engine up to operating temperature. When the proper temperature is reached the user then shuts off the engine and proceeds to bump start it when they are ready to ride. While riding, the rider is standing and holding the handle bars. To accelerate the rider squeezes the throttle. If the rider wants to slow down they can squeeze the front brake handle. Turning is done by simply rotating the handle bars to the left or right. When the user gets to where they want to go they simply use the kill switch located in the middle of the handle bars. The user interface is very intuitive as parts of the interface are similar in design to other products the consumer may be familiar with, such as a bicycle. The brake and throttle are located at optimum position, much like the position of the hand brake controls on a bicycle, when riding. Steering is very rudimentary, and is another interaction that is not unlike a Bicycle but unlike a bicycle the user is standing.

Regular maintenance is required but is relatively simple.

  • The air filter requires a regular cleaning with soap and water every so often.
  • It is required that a 40:1 gas to oil mixture be prepared since this scooter is a two stroke.
  • Spark plug replacement is also a required maintenance.
  • The rear tire also needs to get replaced every so often, as it gets worn from the direct drive aspect of the engine.

Oil mixing is relatively easy; most oils provide a guide on how much oil to add to a gallon of gas on the side of the bottle. The air filter comes off with one clasp making it very easy to get to. Tire replacement is also easy, the old tire is cut off, and then a new tire gets pressed on.

Product Alternative Profile

Aside from other motorized scooters, the Goped has one main competitor: the Segway i2. The Segway i2, which is the base model made by Segway, along with the most comparable to the Goped in terms of features, has some qualities that make it both advantageous and disadvantageous. The Segway i2 is electric, so it does not give off any emissions during operation. Although recharging it does result in carbon emissions, it is a miniscule amount equivalent to about .081 lb/mi of CO2 ,as seen in Table 1. By comparison, it is estimated that a scooter gives off approximately .28lb/mi of CO2 (it is likely that this is a reference to a scooter with a slightly larger engine, but for estimation purposes, we can assume that the Goped would be closer to this figure than the Segway’s figure). The lack of usage emissions, along with non-marking tires, allows the Segway to be used indoors, while the Goped should remain outside.

Segway CO2.jpeg

Despite all of its advantages, the Segway i2 has certain flaws that make it less appealing than the Goped. For example, while the i2 has a range of 24 miles, it can only reach a top speed of 12.5 miles per hour. On the other hand, the Goped, has range of 26 miles, and can reach 20 miles per hour. Another advantage of the Goped is that it has been in production for over 25 years, and uses an ordinary two stroke internal combustion engine. Therefore, if something were to malfunction, replacement parts would be cheap and easily available. The biggest disadvantage of the Segway i2 is the cost. While Goped can be had for under $600 brand new, the Segway i2 costs a staggering $6,999. While it is understandable that the i2 costs more due to its advanced nature, it is hard to justify the price difference between two products that achieve the same goal, unless the consumer’s sole reason for buying the product is based off of carbon emissions and carbon emission equivalents.

References

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