Work since 9/16/2015

Sub-Team:

Since last class meeting on September 16, 2015, I have been looking at the painting methods for the full-scale cabin. The group was notified that the students and an ambassador from Sweden will be coming to see the project. Ron Swenson noted that it would be a good idea to finish up the work that the Swedish students had done over the summer. The full-scale group collaborated with Caleb Kalala Kabeya via discussion in class time and email. Caleb contacted the Swedish students to see if they had preference in color scheme for the cabin that they built. We also discussed times when we could get together to do the finish work. Work that needs to get done is as follows: sanding, adding more bondo (if needed), priming (if needed), painting, and possible second coat of paint.

Full-Team:

As head librarian for the Spartan Superway, I have been trying to look for resources and references for the project. The main goal is to find a way or location site to organize all the work done over the years in a central location. This will help the current and future teams when they needed to reference current or past information. This will replace having to ask around or emailing documents.

Cabin sketches and explanations

I would like to focus on the design of the full-scale cabin, station, and safety features. The safety features would mainly focus for handicapped; with adding hooks and ramps. The hooks in figure 1, would help to keep wheelchairs from moving during the time the cabin is going to it's destination.

Figure 1: Hooks for the wheelchairs

In figure 2, there is the representation of a ramp for the cabin. The ramp is there if the platform of the station and floor of the cabin are not leveled. The ramp would be in place of a step because there is wheelchair accessibility and passengers would not have to step down from the cabin. The ramp would also cover the gap between the station and cabin, which will prevent tripping accidents for the passengers.

Figure 2: Cabin ramp

 Figure 3 shows a possible entry and exist for the cabin. Sliding doors would be used because they would slide along the sides of the cabin. Having sliding doors is the better option because swinging doors would require space when opening, which could possibly hit a passenger if they are standing close too the entrance of the cabin.

Figure 3: Cabin with sliding doors

Research on areas of interest, shortcomings, improvements, and images

            The areas that I would like to improve on or further research would be the cabin, safety of the cabin and railways, and station innovation.

Cabin:

            The current full-scale model of the cabin is still unfinished; it currently needs a coating of paint. Sanding the rough and uneven parts needs to be done before painting can be done. Possibly after finishing the work on the current model, a functioning model could be started. This would include making another outer shell with hollow inside. The inside could have the seats that would be in the position functioning for sitting and handicap purposes. The structure of the cabin could also use other materials other than wood, to make the cabin lighter for moving to different exhibitions. The doorway for the cabin also needs to be established, whether it is double sliding doors or a single door that could be used as a ramp.

Figure 1: VTA bus ramp

Safety:

            The current pod systems like the Cabintaxi in Hagan, Germany has the establishing top speeds of 18-22 mph. This is less than half of the speed that the Superway would like to travel. The Cabintaxi speeds were tested with riders that were able to sit cooperatively. Safety for the riders and railways is a major concern for every transportation system. In long distance travel there was the suggestion of having seatbelts, which could extend to wheelchair riders by putting restraints on the wheels so that they do not move during the time the cabin is moving, as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2: Wheelchair hooks for safety

Station:

            The location and site position of the stations for the Superway needs to be decided. When the station is at the level of the track, then the cabin does not need to be lowered, as shown in figure 3. There is the possibility that the cabin will be lowered from the train to ground level for stations. This would require the station platform to be raised higher than ground to make the floor of the cabin level to the platform, as in figure 4. Another situation could be the floor of the cabin meeting ground. Or there is the possibility of the ramp-door taking place of the platform for ease of access to the cabin, figure 5. These options are all wheelchair accessible.

Figure 3: The Link ferris wheel in Las Vegas, NV. Example track level platform

Figure 4: VTA raised platform

Figure 5: Ramp connection for entry and exit

Summary of 9/2 class and update

During the last meeting on 9/2/15 I participated in giving a 1-minute speech on what I learned from the reading in the INIST library. After completing my stumbling speech about how people and transportation affect each other, I realized that I need to strengthen my speech skills. Listening to fellow classmates’ speeches, there seemed to be a consensus of trying to improve the previous year’s work rather than creating new ideas. There was also emphasis on making more safety precautions.

        After completing speeches, the class took a guided tour to each of the different aspects of the project, which included: full-scale model, scale model, and guide-way section of the track. At each stop the group was introduced what was going on in that area and what could be done to improve it. Once the tour was completed each person went to the area that they thought they would like to work on. Then formed groups with others that had similar interests in each of the divided areas.

        The area that I took interest in was the full scale model and the station area. I would like to improve the existing full scale model of the cabin, making safety improvements the bogie-rail connection, or creating a station that the cabin would use. I am more inclined to working on the full scale cabin so that it is aesthetically pleasing and functioning than the existing models. By working on the cabin there is the possibility to transition into making a station for the cabin-human experience.

Introduction

Hi, I’m Rebecca. I am currently finishing up my dual-degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Anthropology at SJSU. My two main focuses are in design and culture, because both compliment each other. Participating in the Spartan Superway project, I felt that it could encompass both areas of my studies. My engineering knowledge will help me analyze, calculate, and improve functions of the Superway. Implementing anthropological techniques, I will be able to find and integrate the needs of the people (culture) whom will be using the Superway one day. Getting involved with the Superway also interested me because I have been using public transportation for over 21 years, finding a way to improve this system would benefit society and the environment.