Travel for a penny a mile: An engineering design challenge inspiring student engagement and sustainable living

Abstract

Student engagement and success in engineering and science is paramount in developing the country's needed technical workforce. Using actual critical engineering design challenges to inspire and engage students in design solutions to real problems is the path to achieving a high degree of student engagement. Sustainability, living better on less, and team projects that directly impact people's lives speak to this generation of engineering students. Energy usage is one of the most critical engineering challenges we face today. Global warming due to harmful emissions from burning fossil fuels and rising gas prices as well as national security issues have driven people to look for new ways to reduce their fuel consumption and to live better on less. It has been known for some time that streamlining vehicles can dramatically improve their fuel economy and in electric vehicles, where energy is precious, you see more streamlined examples. In this study, an interdisciplinary, multi-university student team consisting of three visiting REU students mentored by the same faculty member (who were part of a large REU summer contingent) and three regular students investigated the research question of whether or not it makes sense, from both an economic and practical standpoint, to streamline a motorcycle for everyday use. (A motorcycle was chosen because they are more accessible and less regulated than cars). To answer this research question, the team gathered data on previous Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge events created by Craig Vetter, an American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame motorcycle designer, to test motorcycle fuel economy in real riding conditions. Mr. Vetter was invited to spend a week on campus talking with Engineering and Industrial Design Students about energy usage, streamlining, and aspects of fuel economy. As the realization of this design project, the team designed several components and constructed two streamlined motorcycles to compete in the Vetter Fuel Economy Challenges. This is the only student team involved in these challenges. All other participants are professionals. The faculty mentor met often with the REU students and took them to the three day event in MidOhio. The objectives were to design and fabricate a streamlined motorcycle system to perform comfortably when driven for at least 100 miles at 70 mph into a 30 mph headwind, carrying a useful load of at least four bags of groceries, and use the least amount of energy possible. The performance and fuel economy of the motorcycle was evaluated before and after streamlining. Examining data from several Vetter Challenges, dramatic improvement in the fuel economy of motorcycles after being streamlined is demonstrated. In parallel with the student team's technical research, their individual reflections before, during, and after the project were formally gathered and analyzed. In this paper, the results of the Vetter Challenge competition are discussed along with students' experience and reflections. Ongoing next steps and a pathway to implement this research at other schools are revealed.