Hand crank radio

From DDL Wiki

Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Stakeholders and Product Needs 2.1 Consumers 2.2 Retailers 2.3 Manufacturers 2.4 Shipping / Transport 3 Usage 3.1 How It is Used 3.2 User Studies 4 Bill of Materials 4.1 Components 4.2 Assembly Diagram 5 Mechanical Function 6 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) 7 Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) 8 Design for Environment (DFE) 8.1 Manufacturing 8.2 Use 8.3 End of Life 8.4 DFE Conclusions 9 Mechanical Analysis 10 Team Member Roles 11 References

Executive Summary

Stakeholders and Product Needs

Consumers

Retailers

Manufacturers

Shipping / Transport

Usage

How It is Used

User Studies

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:

1. Direct sunlight is needed for the panels to absorb sunlight efficiently
2. Antenna for the radio goes straight up, it does not bend
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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=