In my final bachelor project, I wanted to contribute to the sustainability of mobility: could the road, instead of just providing grip and comfort, also provide the power required to move?
I explored several in-road propulsion systems. In the first half of my project, I explored different techniques for constructing in road propulsion. In this I noticed my previous developments in Math, Data & Computing and Technology & Realization. For example, I could now write the Arduino code for my magnetic road from scratch in about an hour, without looking at any reference at all. I also made a small calculator for determining the optimal wire thickness and length for the coils in my first prototype, based on the desired temperature increase at a specific duty cycle.
The second half of this project mainly revolved around an overlap area between User & Society and Business & Entrepreneurship: creating something profitable for both the users and the planet. I considered regulations, routes, writeoff costs, subsidies, and so on, always comparing to conventional diesel transport
During this project, I constantly had to keep my internal engineer in check: I felt a great tendency to constantly keep deepening into technological aspects of my design. As I design by building (see PI), this often leads me to “reinvent the wheel”, after which I read in literature, that indeed, it already exists.
Looking back, I should also have gone to experts a bit earlier. My “magnetic road” prototype, electroad V2, was quite an eye-catcher and it probably helped opening some doors with experts, but I also feel like I lost time on it.
In general, this project has taught me that for an “efficient” design process, I should start with extensive research. However, I don’t think “efficient” is the thing to look for in a design process: I am looking for something new and innovative. I find that when I start oblivious to most previous research and just look at a problem, my mind is less likely to travel the same way all previous designers and engineers took: it remains easier to step back and reexamine.
Having said that however, most designs produced when oblivious to previous designs are either already in existence or not very good, so at some point, I need to start researching and discussing my designs with experts to find what works and what does not.
In terms of hard skills I wrote down in my PDP, I can say I learned enough about electromechanics to be able to build my own working linear motor. However, when conversing with the experts in this field, it became clear that, of course, I had only scratched the surface of making it efficient.
For this reason, I think I should not strive for technical perfection in my prototypes, because I often just don’t have the knowledge to perfect it after designing. This does not matter though, because I can work together with a specialist for this.
Next to this, I noticed a vast technical knowledge gap when conversing with some experts, which I found hard to overcome sometimes. Next time, I would prepare for these conversations by reading more about the expert’s subject, instead of only preparing my design.
I really enjoyed working on this project and I am glad I took it on. Doing a complicated project helped me invest much more time in it than I otherwise would have, which I think is beneficial for my overall learning.
From my experience in and before my study, I am quite certain I want to pursue a career in design in the mobility sector. As discussed in my Identity, for me to be happy in this, I need a certain degree of creative freedom and challenge. I consider setting up my own company an option, but I also see myself working in a large corporate environment.
During my bachelor, I noticed the way-of-thinking of industrial design has given me the ability to put my ideas into the world: ideas are free, designs have value. Before I started industrial design, I would very often conclude a design “was no good” because I ran into the first obstacle in the design process. Industrial design has enabled me to put my visions into reality, by iterative design process.
However, during my study I often sought refuge in more technical fields of study: I followed courses in applied physics and mechanical engineering, but noticed this did not make me happy: the formula’s did not interest me, except when I could immediately apply them in a project. The reason I followed these courses was that I felt I missed knowledge to make impact in more technical fields, such as automotive. My final bachelor project has taught me that I can patch this hole by talking to experts.
Because of this, the master “Integrated product design” in Delft draws my attention.
Additionally, I found my USE-line on patents and standards extremely interesting. I suspect because I saw the value of what was being taught when applied to design. This field of study I see myself revisiting in my master.
Overall, I expect to keep making and designing, as I have done since I was very young.