Update 11/18/15

The track has been on track. We recently made changes to the initial design and are now pursuing a new design. I believe the design would demonstrate more than the simple previous round track would. However the new track is needs more time to be completed and I am very confident it can be completed done by the end of the week. The new track will have the complete circular path, however at the first switch it will come down to ground level, as if pulling into a station to pick up a patron, then it will come back up to complete the lap. Also if time constraints or budget become an issue, this design can be cut down to a straight away and a slope at the switch pathway.

Presentation #2

On October 28, 2015, we gave our second presentation about the steering/braking mechanism and guideway. Below is the link to Presentation #2:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FBaztMnbtcV63jevmyG92fScjeyQo0mpygpXeO2GFfc/edit?usp=sharing

Presentation #1

On September 30, 2015, we conducted our first presentation about the steering/braking mechanism and guideway. Below is the link to Presentation #1:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a-q9JBZ5iysBsJDP8FZ147PFpfRAwjGymEP2HLEismk/edit#slide=id.p

Team Proposal

Guide Way Proposal

Objections and Requirements

The objectives of the guideway are as follows:

• Assemble an intermediate scaled guideway
• Guideway will exhibit a sloped 
• Closed loop track with turns and track changes
• Finite Element Analysis to perform stress calculations

It will fulfill the design requirements listed below:

• Must support weight of all the systems, bogie and weight of passengers
• Slope of ±17° (30% grade)
• Material must be correct material to support loads and joined properly through welds or other fasteners (Rolled Steel)
• Must support new design of bogie and allow all contact points to be clear to traverse guide
• Guideway must be for hanging vehicle system
• Cabin must not make contact with rail as it descends or ascends
• Guideway must have spaces to attach solar panels

Narrative

The guideway will demonstrate the 17 degree slope while using little material to save cost. The rail will be closed loop track with one edge dropping and raising at 17 degrees. We discussed that this drop can not be a sudden change and it needs to be gradual to avoid the front of the cabin from hitting the rail. The track will also have a split so it can demonstrate switching at station exits. Previously the rail had to travel backwards to return to start position, but since we plan on a closed loop it will go back to start after completing a lap. Again I will be adding sketches with dimensions to clearly express this idea.

Sketch

Budget

An estimated budget as not been establish yet. We still need to make assumptions to make accurate estimations for the sizes and the material to be used. 

Introduction

Sub team: Guideway
Team: Alejandro Valenzuela, Cassandra Acosta, Thang Ngo, Chris McCormick

The guideway design team will be focusing on a design for the track that will be made in quarter-scale. We will be changing the design to accommodate the modifications done to the bogie, if needed. 

Scope of Work

The current design of the guideway is a leveled track that has a split at the end to allow the cabin to turn or continue straight by switching mechanism on the bogie. Also the current design is a open track so it has to traverse backwards to come back to start position. The quarter scale rail will be designed to hold a quarter scale pod car and bogie system. It will be a closed circuit and it will demonstrate lowering elevation by traveling up or down 17 degrees. We would like to demonstrate more versatile traveling maneuvers to an audience.

Goals

The main goal is to design and build a guideway for the quarter scale bogie to demonstrate different operations. We will be using engineering programs such as Solid works and a finite element analysis program to properly design the guideway.