Below are SolidWorks CAD drawings of our primary concept design. The vehicle is three wheeled, where the two front wheels steer and the rear drives. The vehicle is based on a steel tube frame, using recumbent tricycle 20" front wheels, a modified 20" bicycle rear wheel, and a steering system similar to that used in racing go karts. The configuration is currently set up for a stock Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp engine (as is provided for the competition), but Dan has serious modification in mind that will be discussed in depth. The body of the vehicle will be a combination of a molded canopy from an electric vehicle kit (for visibility) and either fiberglass or aircraft-sytle covered space frame. Below are some pictures of the early work we have been doing and parts we have started to accumulate.

Canopy just unpacked (modeled in the concept drawings)

"Practice" Briggs disassembled for trial sleeving

From left to right: Associate Dean Allen Arthur (faculty advisor), Mick Long (Body Design), Rusty Koch (Frame Design), Dan Findley (Engine Design), David Ramsey (Drivetrain Design), and Jason Hadsell (Steering Design)

We are five seniors attending the University of Cincinnati's College of Applied Science pursuing Bachelors of Science Degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology. A senior capstone project is at the core of our five year program, and we have decided as a group to design and build a vehicle to compete in the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers Supermileage Competition as our senior design project.

We are currently working to establish a permanent website linked through the University, but decided to start this blog to update everybody in the meantime. Please see our links to check out SAE and the Supermileage page as well as our sponsors.