Daimler Trucks of North America / College For Creative Studies
Efficiency Truck
Freightliner Trucks
Efficiency Truck
Efficiency Truck
The Supertruck was a sponsored Project by Freightliner Trucks, where our class got input from designers and engineers from DTNA (Daimler Trucks of North America) about aerodynamic efficiency, as well as lightweight materials to design a new efficiency Truck, which would set a new standard in tomorrows Trucking market.
2. The Brief: Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the context for the project, and what was the challenge posed to you?The Main problem was to increase efficiency by 50 percent, compared to today’s trucks. This problem could be approached any number of ways, including aerodynamic changes, reduction of weight in using lighter materials, alternative fuels, etc.
3. The Intent: What point of view did you bring to the project, and were there additional criteria that you added to the brief?The intent that I brought to this project was to increase efficiency by 50 percent, I chose to extensively research aerodynamics to gain a much better understanding of the subject, along with engine configurations to get the most mileage for a given amount of fuel.
4. The Process: Describe the rigor that informed your project. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) What stakeholder interests did you consider? (Audience, business, organization, labor, manufacturing, distribution, etc., as applicable)The intent that I brought to this project was to increase efficiency by 50 percent, to do this I chose to use the ecomotors powertrain due to its versatility in what fuels it can use, its simplicity in it’s reduction of parts ( thus saving weight), and its short-long proportion allows more visibility for the driver.
The articulating Flaps that extend outward from the cab to the trailer act as airfoils to smoothly provide an “air tight” transition from cab to trailer. The Flaps are pneumatically powered and bend inward when the truck is slowing down to allow room for the cab to swing out when the truck is turning. The flaps have infinitely variable positions, which means that they can conform to any irregular trailer shape to allow for maximum efficiency in aerodynamic flow.
The Aerodynamic mirrors offer visibility while also doubling as support structure for rollovers for added stability. Mirrors where chosen over cameras due to reliability and eyestrain for driers.
5. The Value: How does your project earn its keep in the world? What is its value? What is its impact? (Social, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, environmental, cultural, gladdening, etc.)If implemented, this concept has the potential to increase efficiency by 50 percent, which means cutting fuel costs by half, and eliminating many thousands upon thousands of barrels of oil used by the North American Trucking industry, leaving a greener footprint on the environment.
Did a very good job of meeting the design goals of aerodynamic efficiency.