Multipurpose Bike RACK Design & Development

As part of an internship with CEIIA (Center for Innovation and Creative Engineering), a product development company located in Portugal, I worked on designing and developing a multipurpose bike rack with three overall functions: to carry standard pannier bags, hold surfboards for easy transport, and to provide a locking mechanism to secure the bike when not in use. To satisfy these functions, I chose to approach the problem with a modular design, which could adapt to each situation and was compatible with CEIIA's already existing bike. This was an independent project led by me and it was to be completed in less than 8 weeks.  

The product development process for this project is outlined below. 

User Research & Benchmarking

The users identified for this product are people whose main form of transportation is biking and who wish to carry their surfboard on a bike. From interviewing users, the main concerns identified regarding carrying a surfboard on a bike were maintaining stability while riding, being able to maneuver easily, visibility, and drag created by the surfboard. There are many products on the market that satisfy some of the functional requirements previously mentioned, however, there is not one product that satisfies all three. Before beginning the design process, I analyzed existing racks and surfboard mounts. I defined some standard features of these that may be used in my product. Additionally, I analyzed the different types of surfboards, their sizes, and how they relate to CEIIA's bike. The functional requirements were then extended to include: to be easily installed, to be weather resistant, and to withstand the weight of a surfboard with a factor of safety of 2. To fulfill these requirements, the problem had to be approached with a modular design. 

Concept Generation

Many concepts were generated. They varied in the ways the rack could be mounted onto the bike and also in the ways the surfboard could be mounted. During the concept generation phase, I presented my ideas to fellow engineers who provided feedback and recommendations. I used Pugh charts to compare the various concepts and decided on a product with the following features:

• a rear rack component with cylindrical tubes to which standard pannier bags can clip on
• two points of attachment to the bike - at the wheel axel and below the seat
• two curved surfboard mounts that can be removed and attached at will
• an extension tube that allows the surfboard mounts to extend out of the way of the bike's pedals
• when removed, the curved mounts double as a u-lock