PACE: SUT COMPETITION 2010 COMPANY: GOLDEN T INDUSTRIES THE ERBAHNE MEMBERS: PERRIN WILLIAMS MICHAEL STEWART BRANDIECE

BERRY

Abstract The Erbahne is a compact, light, and efficient alternative to conventional modes of urban transport. The market has a necessity for this product because of the overbearing strains of cars and other modes of public transport on the environment. Its primary goal is to reduce the carbon footprint exerted on the environment by humans and simultaneously reduce high volumes of traffic in urban areas.

Background Information The SUT 2010/2011 literature outlines the specifications that the vehicle must possess. The vehicle must be enclosed, suitable for 2-passenger travel and have enough storage space for light cargo. The vehicle also must be able to remain upright when stopped. There were no considerations for the number of wheels. The vehicle must have a sustainable propulsion system, appropriate for the selected urban area. It must be able to travel a minimum of 25 miles before refueling. There is also a networking aspect of the vehicle where it implements vehicle-tovehicle communication, GPS, distance-sensing and autonomous operation. The Erbahne is a fusion of a car and a motorcycle. Its reverse-tricycle frame increases the stability of the vehicle and removes the cost of the 4th wheel. It is modeled after the Capagna TRex, though the Erbahne is not built for speed. The Erbahne uses a hybrid gas-electric system to fulfill the sustainable propulsion requirement. Hybrids Automotive engineers have explored the concept of the hybrid gas-electric car since the beginning of the 19th century. In 1898, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche built his first car, the Lohner Electric Chaise. It was the world's first front-wheel-drive. Porsche's second car was a hybrid,

using an internal combustion engine to spin a generator that provided power to electric motors located in the wheel hubs. While only using the battery, the car could travel nearly 40 miles. Today there are different types of hybrid gas-electric car configurations, the simplest being the series positioning. In series, the power split device (see below image), powered by a battery controls the initial movement of the vehicle, which is done by electric motor. As the car accelerates, the engine powers an additional generator to charge the battery or it drives the motor directly, which moves the car faster.

In todays American automotive industry, almost every company has a line of some hybrid or green car. But, the issue facing urban areas today is a multi-faceted one. Many of those hybrid cars reduce emissions but are highly expensive. Furthermore, they still do not solve the problem of the limited space most urban areas have, due to high population density. The Erbahne SUT vehicle is affordable, efficient, compact, and most importantly, eco-friendly. Considerations Immediately, we were concerned with the costs of the hybrid system, and have made design considerations to reduce the cost of the overall product. Since it is a smaller vehicle, we have decided to go with a smaller, motorcycle engine (750cc) capable of up to 128 hp. The

system will have a reverse oriented drive train system, meaning briefly, that only the back tire is powered. The front two tires act as stabilizers and control the direction of the car. We are also exploring the use of the front axles own rotating kinetic energy, much like Dr. Porsche, to provide supplemental electricity to the hybrid system, which can reduce costs. Another consideration that we have made to significantly reduce cost is to limit the components that are added to the prototype (radio, AC, etc.). Since it is an urban vehicle capable of traveling in a 25mile radius before refueling, the driver will only be in the vehicle for short periods at a time. Providing those amenities would be much like mounting a sound system on the back of a bicycle extremely superfluous. Golden Ts prototype uses the compact features of Capagnas T-Rex coupled with a mini hybrid system to eliminate the need for a sustainable urban transport.

Motivation Urban areas are crowded, polluted and even unsafe at times. Engineers are faced with the task of reliving a stress on these areas, so that they may grow and progress. In this task, we also must relieve some economic stress as well. Creating a product that will revolutionize in-city transportation that is highly expensive, is at best, counter-productive. Atlanta, Georgia, for example, has a population of 540,921, in about 132 sq miles. The traffic congestion is some of the worst in the entire Southeast region. Some form of hybrid or green car would be excellent for the city. But the median income for a household in Atlanta is $47,464. So that vehicle would need to be cost efficient as well as clean and eco-friendly. In the end, total human dependency on the earths natural resources will only deplete them. As engineers, it our aim should be to revolutionize our technologies in order to provide society with a more responsible means of living, understanding that we can limit the damage that we do to the planet.

The Erbahne will provide consumers with an affordable, environmentally friendly alternative to four wheeled automobiles. It recognizes that todays modes of transportation are becoming more of a burden on the socio-economic and environmental equilibrium of the urban area. The emergence of the Erbahne will alleviate the environmental strains of conventional modes of transportation in urban areas.

Project Statement Due to over saturation of people in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area there has been a high demand for people to have a more economical friendly form of transportation. Golden T Industries looks to design a three-wheeled automobile with the capacity to hold two passengers and light cargo (i.e. groceries or briefcases). It will be used by people who do light travel everyday to and from work as a way to have an inexpensive form of transportation that will also save on gas mileage.

Team and Stakeholders Sponsors: Tuskegee University, PACE Partners Process Owner: Golden T Industries Instructor/Blackbelt: Dr. Mohammad Hossain Technical Advisor: Dr. Mohammad Hossain Team Member: Brandiece Berry Team Member: Michael Stewart Team Member: Perrin Williams Team Resources: Tuskegee University Libraries, Auburn University Libraries, On-line resources

Project Charter: Description + Chart Business Case The money is held with Tuskegee University, PACE and its partners. After initial sales, revenue from profits will maintain production. The target customers are those individuals commuting to and from work in the Atlanta, GA metro area. A car of this magnitude (cost, fuel efficiency and aesthetically pleasing) will sell relatively well in todays cost and environmentally conscious economy.

Goal Statement This project is aimed to provide a swift, reliable, and inexpensive mode of transportation to metropolitan commuters in heavily populated areas. The goal is to increase efficiency and ease of movement of human resources and decrease the carbon footprint caused by motorized transport of people to and from work and surrounding amenities.

Opportunities The opportunities provided by this product include the emergence of a vehicle of this caliber in the automotive market. Because of competitors small scope, the Erbahne will provide customers with a compact and powerful vehicle capable of urban transport needs; whereas, the competitors touch on either the compact nature of the vehicle or the power, not both. Project Scope In Scope: The need for mass environmentally friendly, yet individually independent travel within the city will be addressed by this project

Out of Scope: commuters with families or that carry goods from suburbs to within the city. [Chart Below]

Project Charter
Business Case:The money is held with Tuskegee University, PACE and its partners. After initial sales, revenue from profits will maintain production The target customers are those individuals commuting to and from work in the Atlanta, GA metro area. -A car of this magnitude (cost, fuel efficiency and aesthetically pleasing) will sell in todays cost and environmentally consious economy Opportunities:

Because of competitors small scope, the Erbahne will provide customers with a compact and powerful vehicle capable of urban transport needs. Whereas, the competitors touch on either the compact nature of the vehicle or the power, not both.

Goal Statement: This project is aimed to provide a swift, reliable, and inexpensive mode of transportation to metropolitan commuters in heavily populated areas. The goal is to increase efficiency and ease of movement of human resources and decrease the carbon footprint caused by motorized transport of people to and from work and surrounding amenities.

Project Scope In scope: The need for mass environmentally friendly, yet individually indepenent travel within the city will be addressed by this project Out of scope: commuters with families, or that carry goods from suburbs to within the city.

Multi-Generation Product Plan: Description and Table In the multi-generational project plan, the company lays out the direction in which the product will procede. At Golden T Industries, we selected 3 generations of development. These three generations allows for the companys vision for a compact, eco-friendly and affordable vehicle for the commuters in the Atlanta Metro-Area. Components and amenities will be added in the later generations. The initial vision is to develop a vehicle that is environmentally conscious along with being cost efficient. With this product, we are looking to revolutionize metropolitan transport.

After affordability and green operations for the vehicle, the next advances lie in the ergonomics of the vehicle. We are also looking to expand on the use of fuel and power with this generation. Finally the design engineers will fully optimize the cabin and materials used in the cabin for aesthetics and performance purposes. Golden T starts this project by determining the specifications on a lightweight vehicle that will have the capability of holding 2 passengers with light cargo (i.e. briefcase or groceries). The next step is to research and determine a suspension system that adequately supports our applications. The selection process for the suspension system will also help determine if this vehicle could be modified with off- road capabilities. Potential customers may commute from rural areas to urban areas for work, so off-road capabilities is a feature that is within the scope of the vehicle. In the last generation of the product, an inexpensive GPS system will be integrated into the vehicle for easy navigation. Many companies have pool vehicles which employees are allowed to take out for meetings away from their home office. Having a navigation system will come in handy for those who are trying to navigate around town. It can also be utilized by Automotive Rental companies because of the convenience. When it comes to establishing the platform technologies, materials selection was paramount. Using such things as fiberglass composite materials along with lightweight steel alloys will allow for a strong, sturdy vehicle. This technology will not only shave weight from the vehicle but also make front end collisions safer. The use of hybrid engines and other energy storage techniques will add to the environmentally friendly goal of the vehicle. In generation two the company will be directing its focus to the development and expansion of its electrical systems. Things such as the drive-by-wire technologies will be taken into consideration. With a

drive-by-wire system, the turning mechanism is controlled by electrical components, thus removing large mechanical parts. Another technology that will be integrated will be a system similar to that of Ford Motor Companys Sync system. {} This system goes along with incorporating the GPS and social communications systems within the automobile. In todays markets, online social networking is a cornerstone of communication. It is becoming necessary to integrate these capabilities into vehicles to reduce cell-phone related vehicular accidents. Lastly, the development of the engine itself will be taken into further consideration. Being that major modifications or additions to engines can warrant the largest amount of cost, the third generation of the platform will receive engine considerations. Technologies such as turbochargers and the ability to operate under a closed or shut-off piston condition will be explored cost providing. Another development at this step would be a possible change in design of the cabin to fully accommodate extra passengers. With this Product plan set forth Golden T Industries sets out to develop an automobile that will take the automotive world by storm once released. [Multi-Generation Product/Process Plan Figure Below]

Project Plan Within the project highlight, plans for the progress of the product are outlined. This plan shows a progression of examining different items over a course of time. The sections are Late, Newly Started, and On- Going. Items that have been examined but are taking longer than the allotted time are considered Late. Chassis design has been researched but there are still some decisions to be made about its specifications. In addition, the interior components and the hybrid engine system are yet to be finalized. Along with that, the placement of certain drive train components are still ongoing. These considerations are explored so thoroughly in order to increase storage space within the vehicle. The On-Going highlights of the project are those that have past the preliminary stages of research and have entered specification and implementation in the vehicle. Some of these include the choosing of the materials used, especially the interior. Each selection is done carefully and

thoroughly researched in order to find the best material for the vehicle and to minimize costs. Also, suspension research is on-going. Selection of a proper suspension system ensures a smooth ride. One of the last on-going tasks is research on ergonomics and fuel efficiency. Golden T Industries realizes that no matter how inexpensive or fuel efficient a vehicle is if it is uncomfortable, people will not want to purchase it. Fuel efficiency, however, is still paramount in the design considerations for the vehicle. The Newly Started highlights are ideas that have been pitched and are now going through the process to determine whether or not they are going to be implemented. Most of the newly started highlights for the Erbahne are technologies that would drive the cost of the vehicle upward which should be avoided. These improvements to the concepts include the addition of a GPS system into the cabin of the vehicle. Social Networking capabilities will also be explored and possibly implemented in the vehicles. Another innovation, which would possibly be added to the concept, is the drive-by-wire system. This system would eliminate the need for a steering column. This will make the vehicle safer in collisions and smaller in weight. The last of the newly started project highlights are the most expensive. These highlights are major engine advancements that include adding turbochargers and giving the car the ability to shut off pistons in certain driving conditions.

Project Plan Highlights

Late
o

Newly Started
Durability testing Component and materials testing

Placement of engine components

Ongoing
Multi-utility concepts Final Construction constraints

Project Communication Plan

Initial Model: Sketch + Brief Description

In this initial sketch, we had a light knowledge of the depth and breadth of the project. We did some conceptual sketches of how we envisioned our finished product. Breaking that model down to its bare minimums for fiscal analysis, we redesigned the concept for ease of use, ease of design, and structural soundness. Below are the redesigned concepts.

This concept was then optimized for better use of materials, taking out parts that were unneeded and redesigning the car to fit a more aerodynamic shape and cost effective frame.

This conceptual design was the final design used. It was then transferred to the NX-5 modeling software and generated into a product model.

Quality Function Deployment

QFD House 1
Specific Quality Characteristics

QFD House 2
Functional Requirements

SQCs

Quality Function Deployment matrices show the correlation between components in the vehicles various systems and the needs of the customer. In QFD House 1, 10 consumers were asked to list, in order of importance five different automotive qualities from 1-10, 10 being most important. This is named the priority number. It was found that affordability was most important to consumers. Next was fuel efficiency, followed by engine performance, storage capacity and lastly, comfort and compact nature of the vehicle. These customer needs are then correlated with different specific quality characteristics (SQCs) and rated how each need affects each SQC. For example, affordability highly affects the propulsion systems, lighting, and engine size (9 was given for highly correlating). The importance number for each SQC is then generated by the product of the priority number and the correlation number (0, 3, or 9). Each importance number for each customer need is added to make an absolute importance for the correlating vehicle SQC. In QFD House 2, the SQCs are correlated to the different functional requirements considered for the vehicle. Here, the functional requirements are rated depending on their correlation to the particular SQC. For example, in the Propulsion systems, requirements such as Electrical/Gas consumption (Volts/mpg), Battery Chemistry and Sizing all correlate highly with the Propulsion systems in the vehicle. The importance number for each respective functional requirement is generated exactly how it is in House 1, only it can be divided by 100 to be easily manipulated.

Sequential Customer and Business Needs According to Importance The needs of the customer include but are not limited to: 1) Affordability: It is important that the Erbahne be priced in the range of our target population, which is the middle class urban citizen of the Atlanta- Metro Area. 2) Fuel Efficiency: Fuel Efficiency is a highlight of the Erbahne. The 750cc engine has a standard fuel economy of 32 MPG. After comparing three different automakers, it was found that hybrid engines add an average of 15 MPG to the overall fuel economy of the vehicle. It can be asserted that the theoretical fuel efficiency of the Erbahne is 47 MPG. 3) Engine Performance: The engine will have 128 hp 4) Storage Capacity: The Erbahne will be 6.5 ft X 11.5 ft perfectly compact while maintaining storage capacity. 5) Comfort: Since comfort is a highly sought after feature among consumers, it is important that the Erbahne be built to comfortably transport two passengers and light cargo. 6) Compact Category: the Erbahne must be small enough as to fit in PACE SUT dimensioning restraints. 7) Aesthetics: Since the target age group for the Erbahne is the professional commuting in an urban area, ages 23-45, considering the overall look of the vehicle is a customer need.

Product Design Specifications Engine/Performance

750cc hybrid engine Inline 4 128 horsepower @ 7600 rpm Compression ratio 12.5:1 Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Fuel Capacity: 8 US gal (30.28 L) 0-60: 4.6 seconds Top speed: 70 mph

Product Life Span

The vehicle will be designed to be on the road for 12 years Spare parts for the vehicle will be produced for the 4 years after production ends

Target Costs

The product will have an initial cost of $13,500 The cost of production for this product will be $8,000 The respected dealerships will have to pay for the cost of shipping which will likely be pushed to the customer

Quantity

50,000 vehicles will be made in the first year Production will increase by 10,000 vehicles/year to meet customer demand in the initial cities it is released in as well as to expand to other cities

Maintenance

The vehicle will come with a 10 year/50,000 mile warranty This vehicle will require the same maintenance that every other passenger car on the road requires

Size and Weight Restrictions

This car is designed to best fit a person between the heights of 50 and 63 comfortably For best performance the weight of the passengers and cargo should not exceed 600 pounds

Testing

Cables, hoses, and safety testing will be carried out by government regulations 100% of the vehicles produced will go through a 100 point end-of-line inspection before reaching the customer

Documentation

The customer will have an owners manual that will be in the vehicle The sticker will contain all necessary information for the potential customer that all other vehicles are required to have

Competition or existing product The primary competition for The Erbahne is the SmartCar and the Toyota Prius. The SmartCar uses a diesel engine as its primary source of power. The highlight of the SmartCar is its compact nature. The Erbahne is compact, and it uses a cleaner mode of power the hybrid system. Our edge against the existing smart car is that it has three wheels and sits lower to the ground. This offers a more stable ride and better cornering abilities, as the vehicle has a lower

center of mass. Also, the Erbahne is more aesthetically appealing, which makes it a fore runner in the market of young professionals that live and commute in urban areas.

CAD Designs

Generation1: Prototype

Generation1.5: The Erbahne

This is the initial prototype for the Erbahne.

The prototype was refined for aerodynamics and aesthetics. The swing arm is added for optimum suspension.

Generation 2: Sedan-Type Erbahne This generation has an expanded cab for more space.

Generation3: SUV-Type The SUV is the off-road Erbahne. It has larger tires and a stronger suspension system for rural driving.

Concept Selection using Pugh Matrix Concept selection using the Pugh Matrix is a process used to determine whether the selected components or system is as good as or better than existing products. In this matrix, the Erbahne Hybrid Engine System was compared with three alternative engine systems: diesel engines, bio-diesel, and electric systems. The constant, was the IC Engine, which is standard in automotives. Each system type was evaluated based on different criterion in three different categories: quality, functionality, and cost. In the quality category, the evaluation criteria are engine performance (torque), drivability and fuel efficiency. Each evaluation criteria is compared to the system type. If the system type is better than the IC engine, it receives a +1 rating. If it is worse, it receives a -1 rating. No correlation yields a 0 rating. Here, the importance number is from 1 to 5, 5 being the most important. The importance number is then multiplied by the correlating 1s and added together to get the Weighted Concept Rating. Overall, the Erbahne performs exceptionally against competitive systems.

Final Design and Specifications

The final design for the Erbahne is shown above. The specifications on the vehicle are as follows:

Design of Experiment Plan Golden T Industries feels that along with laboratory testing and computer aided engineering analysis, actual testing of the entire vehicle is the most important process in the development of a prototype vehicle. For the Erbahne, Golden T Industries will be using four test parameters that will test one of each of the four energy forms that the company deems to be important. The energy forms in which Golden T deems the most importance are instability, decibels, cycle, peak, and frequency. In testing instability, we

are paying attention to how often the car or components move away from their zero position. Testing the decibel level will be done by testing the noise-levels of the interior and how loud the vehicle is from a certain distance away. Cycle testing is the companys way of putting the vehicle through a test which fatigues a specific part until failure. For peak testing the company will take a vehicle to its physical limits. This is done for liability reasons to protect the company from any potential lawsuits. In addition this testing done ahead of time can cut back on any potential recalls from future faulty parts. Frequency testing is done in order to test how often a certain sound occurs along with how long it will take for a specific part to fail. This frequency testing will help determine what exactly the warranty will cover. Golden T has determined five tests which will effectively evaluate each of the five parameters in which we are looking to test. These tests are steering evaluation testing, squeak and rattle testing, vehicle durability testing, max limit handling/vehicle dynamic testing, and noise, vibration and harshness testing. Steering evaluation testing will be done by putting the vehicle on a closed steering and handling course, consisting of a series of varying degree turns, along with varying track elevations throughout the entire length of the course. Sensors will be placed along the steering column, rack & pinion, steering wheel, and control arm. The positioning of the steering wheel will be the control parameter for this test and we are looking to evaluate the resistance of the steering wheel as the car is taken through the various turns. Also, data will be used to make sure that over time, the response from the steering wheel to the front wheels does not worsen. Weight transfer from front to back will also be examined and tested to ensure passenger safety. Since the Erbahne has one rear wheel, it is necessary to perform rigorous traction tests for optimum performance. Squeak and rattle testing puts the vehicle under an intense sound test as it is taken through a series of bumps and simulated road conditions. As the vehicle is driven over the surfaces it is evaluated for sounds that are not normally produced by the vehicle under nominal driving conditions. This is done so by initially taking a recording of the in-cabin sounds as it is taken on regular driving surfaces and then again as it drives on irregular surfaces. The two sounds are then compared for any differences. The vehicle is then taken back to the irregular surface to with a stethoscope and a search is done to find the

origin of the sound. Upon locating the sound it is then evaluated to determine the frequency of the sound. Then the sound of the cabin is sent to a survey and of consumers to see if they would approve of the sounds in the interior. Vehicle durability is a way to test the wear and tear process that a vehicle will undergo. This is done by taking the vehicle over a series of extreme road surfaces at various speeds along with taking the vehicle on hills with different grade levels. What the company is looking for is to try and figure out exactly when and how often the different components will fail through the course of a twelve to fifteen year lifetime. This helps determines which parts will be covered by the warranty and how long the warranty will be for. In order to test a vehicles peak performance, vehicle dynamics and analysis must be performed. What this consists of is putting the vehicle through a serious of tests which the car will purposely fail. These serious of test include extreme lane changes, in which the vehicle will quickly and suddenly move 2 or 3 lanes over and then immediately back to its original lane; centripetal force circle, which the car is driven in a circle at increasing speeds to test the lateral gravitational forces the vehicle can withstand; and also curb impact testing to determine whether or not the vehicle could withstand being able the impact of running up a standard curbside. Along with sounds that are heard by the passengers within the cabin there are also noises that are not heard which can equally affect the way the vehicle performs. These sounds are evaluated through noise, vibration, and harshness testing methods. These tests are performed within NVH quiet rooms which allow the sounds and vibrations caused by the driveline. This is important because these vibrations can be detrimental to knuckles and other connections over a period of time. When conducting these tests the vehicle is purposely given an unbalance along the driveshaft in order to determine what it takes to create an unbalance and the frequency of the noise and vibrations.

P Diagram The Product P Diagram explores a specific phenomena and how it effects all bodies involved. For the Erbahne, the phenomena selected was Energy Transformation. The program input is throttle and steering controls. This describes the features that initialize the fundamental transfer of energy in automotives that is, the progress of non- movement to kinetic energy or movement. The controlled factors are the exterior and interior component specifications, pedal and steering column orientation and material selections. These factors control how the energy transformation is carried out. The uncontrolled factors or noise are the crewmember seated mass, added components to the vehicle, and variations on seating positions. These features are out of the designers controls, but still need to be considered in the operation of the vehicle. The output are the forces on the passengers, member positioning and vehicle turning and movement. The design considerations are generated for these concepts through the examination of input variables and the variables that are in designers control and those that are not.

Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FEMA) The Failure Mode Effect Analysis scrutinizes different malfunctions using failure modes, categories in which failures are grouped. The modes are broken down into the potential failure effect. The severity of the effect is rated (all ratings are on a 1-10 scale where 1 is the least in severe and 10 is the most severe), the potential causes of that failure are noted and the probable occurrences of that problem are rated. The current industry controls for that issue are noted for the failure effect and the ability to detect that failure is noted. The product of these ratings for each failure yields the Risk Priority Number for that failure. This is used to prioritize the items that will require additional quality planning. For the Golden T Industries Erbahne SUT, The Failure Mode Effect Analysis model is shown below.

Risk Assessment: Sources of Risk In undertaking this project, regarding the design, engineering, manufacturing, and sales of automobiles that are genuinely novel, there are several risks that are incurred. Golden T

Industries analyzes and assesses the risks by placing them in categories laid out in the Six Sigma Define Phase Business Risk Management Matrix (BRM Matrix). These categories group similar areas of the planning and design phase where risks will affect just that particular area. This allows for the proper adjudication of where risks lie, how severe they will be in the project planning and processing phases, and how the design team is able to counteract these risks in the design phases of planning. Risk Assessment: Business Risk Management Matrix

Risk Assessment: BRM Matrix

Key Business Activities 0, 1, 3, or 9 1) Product and Service Development......................................... 3 2) Sales Capability...................................................................... 9 3) Order Fulfillment..................................................................... 9 4) Product & Service Support......................................................3 5) Strategic Business Planning................................................... 9 6) Social Responsibility............................................................... 3 7) Corporate Governance........................................................... 9 8) Information Managing............................................................. 9 9) Human Resources.................................................................. 9 10) Accounting and Reporting.....................................................9 11) Financial Products................................................................ 9 12) Treasury................................................................................ 9 Composite Score 18

Golden T Industries assessed both concepts One and Two utilizing the Six Sigma BRM Matrix. Our lowest scores for Concept One were found in the Product Service and Development,

Sales Capability, Order Fulfillment, and Project Service and Support. These areas scored a risk number of 1, 3, 3, and 3, respectively, giving us a composite score of 10. For concept Two, our lowest scores were in Product and Service Development, Product Service and support, Strategic Business Planning, and Social Responsibility, yielding a 3, 3, 3, and 9 and consequently a composite score of 18. Juxtaposing the concepts against one another, our risk scores lead us to choose Concept Two. For Concept Two, Product Service and Development risks lie in the lack of resources that Golden T Industries has available because of the constraints of the university. In the development of the vehicle, proper prototypes cannot be built and tested to ensure that the design considerations are comparable to real life applications and expectations. Sales Capability risks lie in the lack of a sound marketing communications program. This would provide the effective messaging and relationship with the customer [1]. In this phase of the design process, it is difficult to conduct proper demonstrations and give tactile examples of the product so that customers will feel comfortable with the quality and profitability of the product. The Golden T Industries lack of marketing strategies and tactical selling plans also has an adverse affect on the potential sales of the Erbahne SUT. Without the proper venues to promote the product, sales will dramatically be diminished. Strategic Business Planning was not as great a risk as the aforementioned, however it was of enough magnitude to be acknowledged. The business plan aspect of the project is out of the expertise of the Golden T Industries engineers. This plan would ensure that the proper funds are allocated to various processes in the manufacture and sale of the Erbahne SUT. From an engineering standpoint, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of fabrication and manufacturing is top priority and DFMA standards are consistently used to maximize production efficiency, however

without a business strategy, the proper budgeting and allocation of funds to production, sales, service, and customer relation will render the endeavor unorganized and profitless. Product Service and Support risks are those that will result from the aftermarket issues that may arise with the product and services that the customer may need to utilize to maintain the vehicle. These risks arise from the lack of trained technicians and proper tooling of automotive service centers for vehicle repair and maintenance. This will require a rigorous plan to train and certify technicians specifically for the vehicles, and immersing them in the new technologies that will be implemented in the vehicle. In future generations of the Erbahne SUT, there will be GPS, Social, and other networking capabilities. There will need to employ or contract Integration Technology specialists to handle issues that arise from technical issues in the hardware and software of those systems. Social Responsibility concerning business is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, selfregulating mechanism whereby business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. The goal is to embrace responsibility for, and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere.[7] For Golden T Industries, this involves developing a relationship with the communities in where our vehicles are assembled and sold thus, creating a pleasant and helpful environment for our employees while maintaining the best interest of the customer and the stakeholders. As a starting company, these relationships must be carefully planned and constantly honed through trial and error processes. The areas that have the highest risk for Golden T Industries are the initial sales and the Product Service and Development.

In further assessing the risks, a few arise in the Planning, Organizational, Technical, and External areas of risk within the phases of the design. With the planning stages, the present risk assumed is in the initiation of the assembly process and timely and thorough training of employees to assemble the product on-the-line and to service and perform maintenance routines on the product after the initial sale. This is beyond the scope of what Golden T Industries is able to accomplish, because of lack of funding, resources and adequate time for all steps of the design process. Risk also lies in the software development, which will be implemented in the second generation of the Erbahne SUT. This risk is in the different systems that will operate the GPS and social networking capabilities of the vehicle and how they will be developed and maintained. Technical support will be needed and will most likely stem from an outsourced call center to handle IT issues that customers will have. There will need to be a relationship between the companies to ensure that the customers have a way to troubleshoot and maintain working systems within the vehicles. Organizational risks lie in the actual implementation of the design. There are no available machine or welding shops at the University to properly assemble prototypes for testing of materials and systems. This will adversely affect the quality of the final design as it will not have properly been tested. Other risks are in communication and synchronization with other university partners in the PACE project. There are several constraints pertaining to schedules and other university administration issues that could hinder the proper dissemination of information with the design and the engineering institution. Technical risks also reside within the realm of the software for the GPS and social networking systems, as there can be glitches and bugs in the code. This is often prevalent in new operating systems and applications that must be optimized over a period of years. This risk is

minimized with the use of a qualified software development program, or utilizing existing software and having it backed up by the manufacturer of that product. Technical issues can also arise in the hybrid engine controls and systems. They will be used in slightly unconventional ways and will have to be optimized for the light use which the Erbahne SUT will be capable of. Hybrid engines require complex and precise programming with the variation from gasoline to electricity. Issues concerning a myriad of problems from mechanical to electrical are risks that must be assumed with the project. Our external risks are found with the constraints that are placed upon Golden T Industries from the design institution. There are several setbacks that arise from lack of fabrication facilities and drastic fiscal inadequacies that do not allow for prototype assembly and testing in this phase of the project. Further down the line in the production of the vehicle, supplier relationships and how well they are able to meet the demands that will be determined will affect Golden T Industries abilities to meet its own customer demands and quotas.

Quick Wins The quick wins that can be concluded with the Erbahne are: The minimization of parts, purchasing parts and components in bulk, eliminating moving components (simplifying mechanisms) and a boarder target customer base through marketing.

Conclusion The Erbahne is a compact, highly efficient vehicle capable of transporting two passengers and light cargo. The Erbahne is in the selection phase of the design process. Since Tuskegee Universitys Capstone class is only one semester, further investigation and development of the

Erbahne is not in the scope of the class. Structural analysis and prototype testing falls out of the time schedule for the

References 1. PACE: SUT 2010/2011 Manual 2. http://www.newcarpark.com/blog/?p=60 (Series Hybrid Image) 3. http://tucapstone10.tumblr.com/ 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicle (Hybrid Gas-Electric Vehicles) 5. http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-center-how-hybrid-cars-work-under-the-hood2.html (Hybrid Gas-Electric Vehicles) 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta (Atlanta City Specs) 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility