Hand crank radio
From DDL Wiki
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# Rotate arm or expose radio to sun to generate energy | # Rotate arm or expose radio to sun to generate energy | ||
| - | + | ::- 1 min cranking = 30 min radio play time | |
| - | + | ::- 5 hours sunlight = 30 min radio play time | |
# Turn the On/Off/Volume dial | # Turn the On/Off/Volume dial | ||
# Change frequencies by switching the AM/FM/WB switch | # Change frequencies by switching the AM/FM/WB switch | ||
Revision as of 21:42, 4 September 2012
Contents |
Executive Summary
Stakeholders and Product Needs
There are four main stakeholders concerned with this product: consumers, distributors / retailers, manufacturers and transporters (shipment). Each of the stakeholders have different needs as listed below.
Consumers
The Kikkerland Solar Radio Crank is directed toward household consumers who are concerned about their carbon footprint or natural disasters (which may cause extended power outages). Based on our user studies, these are some areas that consumers feel the radio can be improved on.
- Cheaper product price
- Clarity & loudness of radio
- Size
- Durability & reliability
- Efficiency of solar cell & crank (i.e. number of rotations to minutes of radio time)
- Ease of use
- Weatherproof
- Ease of tuning
- Better signal reception
- Fast shipping and efficient transport
Distributors / Retailers
For retailers and distributors, the following characteristics of the radio may come in handy.
- Efficient packaging for cheap & easy transport
- Safe packaging to protect the product functions
- Appealing packaging to display at the store
- Minimal waste packaging
- Product must be in demand
- Ease of storage (e.g. stackability)
- High demand
Manufacturers
The Kikkerland Solar Radio Crank should meet the demands of the customer while being produced at minimum expense, and hence earning the company a better profit margin. Below are some aspects that the manufactures want in their production of the radio.
- Less parts
- Common materials
- Easy assembly to reduce labor costs
- Automated assembly
- Standardized parts
- Reduce shipping costs
- Cheaper production costs
- High demand
Shipping / Transport
For ease of transports, these characteristics are important.
- Lightweight
- Ease of storage (e.g. stackability)
- Durability
- High demand (e.g. large shipment quantities)
Usage
How It is Used
This dynamo solar radio charges with both solar power and a hand crank. The purpose of this radio is to play FM/AM/WB stations with the use of energy generated by the sun or the hand crank. The energy generated from the sun or the hand crank is then transferred to the 300 mAh/2.3 Ni-MH battery. Here are the steps to operate the dynamo solar radio:
- Rotate arm or expose radio to sun to generate energy
- - 1 min cranking = 30 min radio play time
- - 5 hours sunlight = 30 min radio play time
- Turn the On/Off/Volume dial
- Change frequencies by switching the AM/FM/WB switch
- Turn tuning dial to change stations
- Plug in headphones for headphone option
PARAMETERS:
- Fm Frequency Range: 87-108 MHz
- Am Frequency Range: 530-1600 kHz
- Radio Frequency Range: 149-186 MHz
User Studies
This radio requires neither a battery nor a power cord to function. For power, this radio possesses a small solar panel on its upper face as well as a hand crank on its side. The solar panel allows the user to leave the radio exposed to direct sunlight and listen to their favorite station while the radio gathers solar energy. The hand crank is especially useful indoors, during nighttime, or in emergency situations where light is not directly accessible. The radio contains a dynamo generator that can store the energy created by manual-cranking and gathered from the solar panel in a battery. These two methods of energy generation allow the radio to play day and night without consuming electricity.
On the other hand, the portable hand-cranked radio seemed very easy to use. However, there were a few areas of design that must be changed. For instance, the resistance of the crank motion seems to be proportional to the speed of the cranking. The faster the cranking is, the more power is generated but the bigger the resistance becomes. There is a need to be able to find a balance point between resistance in the wheels and power generated from the crank and the solar panel.
While researching this product, there were a few common themes in the review of the product. They are as follow:
- Direct sunlight is needed for the panels to absorb sunlight efficiently
- Antenna for the radio goes straight up, it does not bend
- If you are using the product outside in a sunny day, you never have to crank for power as the solar panel itself will provide the radio with enough power
- On average, 1 minute of cranking gives approximately 15-25 minutes of playing time. Or, 100 turns of the crank is equal to approximate 10 minutes of audio
- The radio is small and light, it fits in the palm of your hand
From these comments, it can be concluded that the energy conversion either from mechanical to electrical, or from solar to electrical, is quite efficient. With a few tweaks, it may be possible to integrate this system with other daily life appliances to convert the rolling mechanical energy into electrical energy. A cheap and portable system to recapture the energy lost from a mechanical process in our daily life may present an interesting research and business opportunity. To achieve these goals for the design process, additional understanding and research on the product must be done.
Bill of Materials
Components
Assembly Diagram
Mechanical Function
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Design for Environment (DFE)
Manufacturing
Use
End of Life
DFE Conclusions
Mechanical Analysis
Team Member Roles
References
Images taken from: Figure 1: www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Dynamo-Solar-Crank-Emergency/dp/B0017S4C26/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346370017&sr=8-2&keywords=
