Seniors Patrick Sims and Michael McCollum and master’s student Scott Casson worked on the large “tricycle” as a capstone project this spring. They continued their work as independent study this summer.
“The goal is to design and build a viable human powered vehicle for the utility classification of competition from scratch,” Casson said.
The team used standard parts for most of the drive train, he said.
“The idea is that if someone uses it to commute or go for groceries it won’t be sitting around for two weeks if it needs repairing,” Casson explained.
“I’m pretty proud of it,” he said. “I think it turned out pretty well.”
The Human-Powered Vehicle Team: Patrick Sims, seated, Scott Casson, back left, and Michael McCollum, back right. (Large image)
Friday’s demonstration was of the chassis only.
The body, Casson said, is designed but the team did not have time to fabricate it.
The team plans to test-drive the vehicle extensively and make any necessary adjustments.
“We’ll take the good points and eliminate the things that don’t work,” Sims said.
The final product students submit for competition probably will be an entirely different vehicle, he said.
