Final Project
In my final project, I want to build an eBike that fulfils everyday purpose.
For me, a bike is a vehicle I make use of for leisure and family, and sports. It is not a everyday and every purpose vehicle.
Currently I drive to work by car because I am often short on time. My days are often packed. Driving by bike would cause extra load – in a mental way. I always feel to be in a tearing hurry and rushing by bike would stress me too, I believe. Thus, I would have to drive fast which then in turn is certainly healthy (physical) but wouldn’t be relaxing to me.
Could an eBike be a solution for me, I asked myself?
Possibly.
If it fits my everyday purpose and needs.
Here's the Plan B:
no plan a?
Image source: kmx
I will use an existing recumbent bike and will add a BLDC motor (Brushless DC Motor) and a battery to it. Some handcraft is needed and mountings for the battery and electronics are needed. The bike lacks of good way to transport goods. Thus, I want to build a) a baggage porter or b) a trailer.
Eventually I will design and create a body shell for everyday usage of the bike.
Solar power units could be added to charge the battery while driving or while parking.
Main focus of the project is to create an open source electronic speed control ESC. The overall aim is to control the motor more flexible according to the users needs.
- Possible scenarios of use could be:
- systems provides sufficient epower in order to not exceed a specific pulse beat of the driver (here: the user needs to carry a sensor unit, connected wireless to the controller).
- user can define a target distance (in kilometre) to be reached by maximum performance of the motor (by the given capacity)
- system monitors the system and human performance status (e.g. for training reasons)
- while driving the system monitors the epower used and indicates the use of capacity (whether the distance can be reached by the given manual power)
- system estimates time for charging the batteries by solar power
- Components needed:
- Stationary HMI (possibly touch screen)
- Wireless communication (value input or external remote control)
- Sensors to measure the humans moment of force (pedals)
- Sensors to measure the system status (voltage, RMP, speed, etc.)
- (Optional) Solar-power charging
- (Optional) mobile unit to measure human factors (e.g. pulse beat)
- Processes involved (as expected):
- CAD, CAM, 3D Printing: mountings for the battery and electronics, HMI unit
- Molding & Casting: waterproof housing for the electronics, mobile unit, baggage porter or trailer, (body shell)
- Electronics design, Input, Output, Networking and communications: EMC, HMI unit, mobile unit
- Computer-controlled machining: mountings for the battery and electronics, baggage porter or trailer, (body shell),
Future ideas:
After having reached this status, further adaptions/extensions could be made, such as the body shell a new chassis, etc.
Some inspiring ideas I found are:
by Eric Lemke
Ginzvelo
E-Fox Velomobile is Both a Bicycle and a Car for Urban Commuters
Organic Transit ELF: überdachtes Lasten-E-Bike
Nico Jara’s Pedal-Powered Potenza Concept Vehicle Stores Kinetic Energy
Further reading:
Comments and Thoughts:
During reviews on 3rd February Neil mentioned some issues I have to think about. He said, this is a good example of "three projects in one: First is about batteries and how to mount batteries; Second is about a vehicle that moves electronically; Third is about measuring human factors".
Neil recommended to set a narrow focus.
Of course, he is right. That's why I decided to go for an iterative approach:
- 1st: Use the bike and the motor that exist and MAKE an open source controller/driver for BDCM
- 2nd: Create an flexible interace for the controller
- 3rd: bring this together