In Indian market two wheelers dominate the sales chart owing to their quick commuting means and affordability. Even though two wheelers are convenient for urban commuting, they come with their own shortcoming. The fatality rates associated with two wheelers are very high and the ergonomics of two wheelers are not on par with four wheelers. These two factors have led to the rise in single driven cars which contribute to rise in traffic congestion and also price per person for commuting. The above phenomenon parts way for a new segment in urban commuting namely Quad bike. Quad bikes are around since the early 19th century where in they are built for off road activities. Quad bikes which are being designed for urban commuting are only a decade old consisting of a handful of manufacturers and there are none in the Indian market. This paves way for exploration of new ideas.
The present project focuses on the conceptual design of Quad bike for urban commuting to improve safety as well as aesthetic aspects in its development with an objective to run by an electric drive, to suite wide-user range, to provide ample storage space and also with unisex design elements for Indian customers. To identify the design parameters the above said objectives were achieved through survey and Gemba study. Target customers were selected based on the survey results with this reference. Quality function deployment (QFD) and Product design specifications (PDS) were developed based on their requirement. Concept sketches were developed using hand and digital media based on the doodle sketches. Non parametric modeling and rendering of the final concept were carried out followed by building a 1: 5 scaled down mockup model for better visualization with all necessary details. Ergonomic analysis was carried out virtually to suite wide range of user group.
In the end Quad bike was designed which incorporates an active lean suspension, contemporary design features, comfortable ergonomics for both 50th and 90th percentile users and storage space, in context with the Indian market.
Urban Commuting, Aesthetic, Ergonomics, Design Elements, Contemporary Design
