Part I – Design
Foldable Stair Climbing Cart
Project statement
Design a Climbing Cart that can be used for easily transporting groceries, laundry, books etc… Devise a mechanism of motion that can tackle obstacles, stairs, curbs, slopes and uneven terrain. It should be foldable to a maximum of 5 in. depth for easy storage. Weight should not exceed 15 lb., while maintaining a weight capacity of 100 lb. The size of the cart should accommodate moving of medium-sized household items. Customers prefer the product to have a comfortable handle, and to be quick and easy to assemble.
Part II – Economics
Investor group offered three proposals
- To invest $3,500,000 on this product with annual O&M of $62,000 starting end of year The proposal is expected to result in annual benefit in cash flow of $920,000 over nayears period withinterest rate of 12.5%.
- To invest $2,700,000 on this product with annual O&M of $83,000 starting end of year The proposal is expected to result in annual benefit in cash flow of $830,000 over nb years period withinterest rate of 11%.
- Toinvest$1,900,000onthisproductwithannualO&Mof$91,000startingendofyearTheproposal isexpectedtoresultinbenefitincashflowof$220,000firstyear,whichincreasesby$60,000yearlyoverncyears period with interest rate of 14%.
Which proposal you should accept, using the present worth analysis?
| Group A | na | = 4 | nb | = 8 | nc | = 16 |
| Group B | na | = 8 | nb | = 4 | nc | = 16 |
| Group C | na | = 6 | nb | = 8 | nc | = 24 |
| Group D | na | = 5 | nb | = 4 | nc | = 20 |
| Group E | na | = 4 | nb | = 5 | nc | = 20 |
| Group F | na | = 5 | nb | = 10 | nc | = 20 |
Instructions
Form teams and work on producing the following project components:
- AprototypeThemodel cannotbelessthan25%oftheoriginalsize.
The proof of concept should be shown through a physically made prototype/ model. Submission of the prototypes/ models.
- A written report. Each report shouldinclude:
- Titlepage;
- Table of contents, showing sections withheadings;
- Introduction outlining the scope of yourproject.
- Methodology
- Discussion/ procedure, that reflects understanding of the design methodology. Discuss the problem formulation, objectives, objective tree, PCC chart, constraints, function- means tree, QFD chart and drawings. Also include requirements (specifications), metrics and a conceptual design with an alternatives and morphological chart followed by a detaileddesign(costs,materialsandanalysisofdesign).Projectplanningandtimelineshould be included. Discussions should address the ethical and environmental issues.
- Results
- Conclusion summarizing thereport.
- Technical drawings using a CAD tool should be printed andattached.