2008 Michelin Challenge Design™ NAIAS Showcase

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Biography

Qhase Lokhandwala, 20, was born in Pune, India. He is currently studying product design (UG) at Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, India. He was recently among the finalists for a Total Mobility Vehicle Competition at the IIT Roorkee and a finalist at the Pune Design Festival for futuristic car design.

Description

The idea or the concept is for a sports car that would be developed for the American market that would absorb impacts and protect pedestrians and passengers.

TRICOON: Meaning three wheeled cocoon is based on the silkworm’s cocoon.

The Exterior Shell is made of a material which will deform on impact but regain its shape again. It also acts like a tinted glass, remaining translucent at night and opaque in the day. The Interior Shell (Cocoon) is an aluminum shell that protects the occupants from an impact. A lighting mechanism covering the surface of the cocoon helps by glowing in the dark so as to increase night visibility of the vehicle. In case of a problem it would release a pulse of glow similar to hazard lights.

The Connectors (Extruded elastomers) are transparent supports to the body that help in absorbing possible impacts. They cover all the surface area of the cocoon. The Tricoon has proximity sensors, anti skid anti roll mechanisms, ABS and airbags which help it to be sensitive and respond in all situations. It has an auto/manual drive and park systems. It would be driven by the back wheel and the steering would be on the front wheels.

A three wheeler with one powered wheel with an in wheel motor would save on transmission losses with just one less wheel to power. The hydrogen tanks and the electronics are integrated in the base and it is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell engine making it fuel efficient and pollution free.