Can-Am Spyder Sponsored Trans. Design Project - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Sven7 · 05-02-2012, 01:47 AM

I've been working on this since January. It was my second semester senior transportation design studio project. Sponsored by Can-Am and NASF, the brief was to make a "muscle Can-Am Spyder" for about 2020.

We each got to make up a "story" so I made up a target customer, 37 year old Joe. He works at NASA JPL and races his LSR truck on the salt. His wife doesn't want him to ride a motorcycle so he wants to buy a trike. This is aimed at his interests.

I focused on functional aerodynamics to design this futuristic Can-Am Spyder land speed racer. It "has" a supercharged 1.5L Rotax I4 from a Sea-Doo. No, it's not an official "concept" and no, it will not be built. It's just a student design, albeit by moi.

I did, however, build a 3D computer model in Autodesk Alias and rendered it in Showcase. Here are my final presentation boards. I presented to a board of judges from Can-Am, NASF and the Big Three this evening. My professor works full time at Ford.

Full Size Boards

Presentation Boards by Tyler Linner, on Flickr

Final rendering by itself

Two of a kind by Tyler Linner, on Flickr

I plan to do some more good renderings in the future. In the mean time, enjoy!

I will graduate from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI in a week and a half. It's a four year BFA program.

kach22i · 05-02-2012, 09:23 AM

I think Joe's wife will still call it a "bike" and will go crying home to her mother's.

However, bang for the buck this type of layout will get you the most performance value - in my opinion.

Nice work, thanks for sharing the details of how it was illustrated.

Did anyone in your class try Autodesk Revit software? It seems to be replacing AutoCad in architecture, or at least on job postings.

.................................................. ...edit

How is the rear wheel held on and driven?

Are the front wheels essentially on a solid axle?

Do you have some of your classmates work for this project posted on your Flick-R account?

Varn · 05-02-2012, 09:47 AM

I have always thought that can am really should have lowered the seating about a foot or more.

Sven7 · 05-02-2012, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

I think Joe's wife will still call it a "bike" and will go crying home to her mother's.

However, bang for the buck this type of layout will get you the most performance value - in my opinion.

Nice work, thanks for sharing the details of how it was illustrated.

Did anyone in your class try Autodesk Revit software? It seems to be replacing AutoCad in architecture, or at least on job postings.

.................................................. ...edit

How is the rear wheel held on and driven?

Are the front wheels essentially on a solid axle?

Do you have some of your classmates work for this project posted on your Flick-R account?

Three wheelers can't really go down on some gravel and are much better in braking as well. So control wise, it's better. But as far as being thrown off the cycle it's just as bad as most bikes. I imagine his wife would be- well let's call it "less mad"- about the purchase.

We don't to architecture or engineering so we don't use Revit or 3DSMax or Rhino. We use Alias because it's good with making fancy surfaces (even if we aren't

)

I will be posting photos of the presentations in the future. Kind of burnt out from being on the computer for half a week straight. (Seriously)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varn

I have always thought that can am really should have lowered the seating about a foot or more.

We discussed this and one student (Ronald Jacobs) created a low-seating concept. Ultimately Can-Am is going for a "ride-on" experience like a motorcycle rather than a "ride in" feeling like a car or go-kart.

kach22i · 05-02-2012, 06:14 PM

I went to the website, I didn't realize this was the Can-Am we were talking about.

New experience in open road riding | Can-Am Roadster

tortoise · 05-02-2012, 06:48 PM

LSR racers aren't interested in styling concepts. Their approach starts with the rulebook, and finding the lowest drag, stable shape that's legal. Yours is a nice rendering, but no LSR machine.

Sven7 · 05-02-2012, 08:02 PM

I forgot to answer about the suspension. The rear is a hubless wheel with stationary wheel covers connected to the, well, hub thing. The front would take a bit of engineering but I'm imagining two very flat, long A-arms going through that shell. They'll have to be very strong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortoise

LSR racers aren't interested in styling concepts. Their approach starts with the rulebook, and finding the lowest drag, stable shape that's legal. Yours is a nice rendering, but no LSR machine.

My professor and Can-Am aren't interested in the rulebook, so you can see my predicament.

drmiller100 · 05-02-2012, 10:31 PM

pretty funny.......

my target customer as well. and I'll be running my trike on the salt this summer.

My answer is "full roll cage is MUCH safer then a bike or open trike."

tortoise · 05-02-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sven7

I focused on functional aerodynamics to design this futuristic Can-Am Spyder land speed racer.

You need to close the hole in the air behind the rider. Below is the world's fastest sit-on-top motorcycle.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTs0Jy0-Pt...gs-photo-2.jpg

Sven7 · 05-03-2012, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortoise

You need to close the hole in the air behind the rider. Below is the world's fastest sit-on-top motorcycle.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTs0Jy0-Pt...gs-photo-2.jpg

I'm going to make an "optional equipment" boat tail extension that will easily bolt on for speed runs. Most people would use the vehicle for daily driving so it's more practical to have a conventional package the majority of the time.