2007: Sharing the Road.
Drawings on Display at Michelin Challenge Design™
Biography:
Evan Roche is 14 years old and lives in British Columbia, Canada. His continual enthusiasm for cars has grown since he was just two years old. Over the years, it has developed into a strong passion for automotive design. His love for the subject has always resided deep in his personality and it shows in his artistic views and techniques.
Currently, Evan is a high school student at Langley Fine Arts Secondary. He is a visual arts major and is learning about different aspects of art that contribute to his design education. He plans to attend university and is currently saving up so that he can attend whichever school will benefit him most. He is actively seeking opportunities to gain experience, technique and skills. Evan dreams about starting his own company and is excited about the future.
The designs and ideas that Evan creates are not focused on just being flashy but on being genuinely meaningful. He is confident that his unique way of solving problems and distinctive technique combine to ensure his bright future in the automotive design universe. No problem is unsolvable for Evan (he was recognized with an award from the BC Inventor’s Association at the age of 7), and his inspiration will guide him throughout life.
Evan’s other interests include music (piano and bass guitar), biking, and spending time with family and friends.
Description:
The Roche er Designs Gecko combines groundbreaking technologies and design features that collaborate to result in a car that safely shares the road with others.
The first of the technologies used in the Gecko is called Magna-Safe. It uses electromagnetic energy to soften, or even prevent, the impact of an accident. Sensors around the perimeter of the car activate when another Magna-Safe equipped vehicle comes within too close of a distance with the car, turning on the electromagnetic panels. These panels have the same charge on all equipped vehicles and when activated they repel each other. This makes the road much safer for all vehicles to share.
The second technology is called CIAS, which stands for Cockpit Impact Absorption System. Using springs, the cockpit is suspended away from other parts of the car, enabling it to move with the force of the crash. This helps it to reduce injuries like whiplash and makes driving much safer overall for the driver and passengers of the Gecko.
The third technology featured in the Gecko is called HAS, this stands for Hood Airbag System. It makes the roads much safer for pedestrians. An airbag which surrounds the hood piece is filled with air beneath the hood (the car has a rear engine). If a pedestrian gets hit by the vehicle, the air on the inside of the hood immediately gets rolled to the outside of the hood to provide an airbag for the pedestrian.
The Gecko has many design features which support its focus on safety. One of these is in the seats. Instead of using large A-pillars, the Gecko has the pillars built into the backs of the two seats. This allows for much greater visibility while maintaining rollover safety.
The Gecko has one big tail light, so that the shape of the car can be more clearly seen and understood from behind in the dark. It also features bright eye catching colors to get others’ attention in the day.
A design feature called the “three bubble shape” is featured in the Gecko. It ensures that other road users approaching from all angles are deflected if in a crash.
Most pedestrians are hit by the front of a vehicle, so the Gecko’s engine is in the rear. This allows for generous space under the hood, and makes room for HAS (see before).
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