Week 9 Update

This week we started building our prototype for transporting the heavy loads and we built the frame for this week. We expect to finish the whole design by Saturday and test it out. We expect to complete our testing and our final lab report by Tuesday. Figure 1 is the prototype frame that we built for our backpack.

Figure 1: Backpack Frame

Week 8 Update

This week we took a drive to the Home Depot approximately twenty minutes off campus to pick up various supplies. Because we already had PVC piping, we only needed to get PVC fittings and a plastic tarp to begin our prototyping. We bought six right angle PVC fittings and four t-shaped fittings which will be enough to hold together the frame for one backpack. We also bought a 9 ft. by 9 ft. plastic tarp which will be cut up and used to hold in the contents of the villager's loads in their packs.

After retrieving the needed supplies, we began to work on putting the frame of the backpack together. First, we cut most of the PVC piping needed to build the frame. We used PVC cement and primers for stability when connecting pieces of the frame. The frame has not yet been completed but we plan to work on it more during lab and then go from there. This week we plan to complete a prototype of the frame and then use the plastic tarp to get a full prototype model of the backpack done. We will then test our prototype and make improvements based on how well the backpack works.

Week 7 Update

This week we tested various ways that the farmers in Bo Klua could carry their heavy loads up a steep slope. These methods included the backpack, the front and backpack and the weight distribution method. We analyzed how the weight distribution with the different methods and came to the conclusion that the front and back pack was the most efficient and most comfortable method that could be used for carrying the heavy loads. We also considered different materials for the backpack. We obtained PVC that we will further use in our experimentation. This week we plan to continue prototyping for transporting the heavy loads. We also plan to pick up tarp material from Home Depot to start prototyping how the packs will hold the loads. Figure 1 shows of one of our group members, Dan, carrying two heavy loads with the weight distributed evenly on his shoulders.

Figure 1: Weight Distribution [17]

Week 6 Update

This week we started making designs for our project. We used an iPad to accomplish these feats. We first made a design of the current method to transport the heavy loads which can be seen in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Current Method [1]

We looked at designs for hiking backpacks, that we could use in our design.

Figure 2: Front-Side Backpack [5]

We also made a preliminary Pro/Engineering sketch of our prototype backpack frame, which can be seen in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3: PVC Backpack Frame [14]

We accomplished our tasks for this week of starting our design. Next week we plan to make finish our design concept so we can then move forward to building our prototype.

Week 5 Update

This week we made 3 decision matrices that would help us in our product ideas. We also fixed the background section for our project proposal and came up with prices that materials would cost. Next week we expect to start our design concept, provided we have come up with an idea.

Week 4 Update

This week we finalized our stakeholders and needs. We decided on a concept that would improve transportation.  After making and analyzing our classification tree, it has become obvious that we should use the backpack idea because it is the most efficient way, both in cost and practice, in which the farmers can retrieve these materials. We still need to finalize the materials that we are using for the backpack.

This week we did more of the research on the materials that are available to the villages and found out that Bamboo is not as accessible as we previously thought. This week we expect to make further progress on our research pertaining to materials available to the villagers. We also plan on making further contact with our senior mentor in regards to information on the project, focusing mainly on more detailed needs and constraints set forth by the villagers.

Week 3 Update

This week, the group worked mainly on revising the original project proposal including an in depth list of stakeholders and their needs along with a rough timeline for the project. Additionally, a list of questions was compiled and sent to our senior mentor in order to help us get under way with this project.

We accomplished everything that we expected to. This coming week we are planning to refine our ideas. In particular we are finalizing a design concept that we think would be very good in practice.