School of Mechanical Engineering

Assignment 1: Buggy, Glider and Bio-arm

Instructions for Buggy build teams
Purpose
The aim of this project is to allow you to gain experience of working on a real engineering design
project. Having completed this project you should be able to:
1. Carry out a simple design project using a formal planning and design process.
2. Apply the following approaches in a simple design project:
o clarify a task;
o define a design specification;
o generate design concepts that could deliver the specification;
o evaluate a range of design concepts systematically;
o select, and justify the selection of a design concept for further development;
o develop a selected design concept in sufficient detail for it to be produced by
a third party.
3. Create 3D solid and assembly models using a CAD system (individually for the concept
designs and as a team for the final design).
4. Communicate design ideas with written reports and engineering design sketches.
5. Carry out basic engineering calculations on your own designs.
6. Develop and test a proof-of-concept prototype.
7. Practice project management skills and appreciate team working.
When you have finished this design and make project you will have:
• designed a simple product, making trade-offs between cost, weight and functionality;
• translated a simple design into a working prototype; and
• reviewed the design and make project.
When should I start this assignment?
You should start this assignment in Week 7. This is a team project. There are some elements of
individual assessment, and others are team based using peer assessment factors. There are three
design briefs. Which project you do will depend on which programme you are on. Check the team
lists on Minerva to see which project you are doing.
Buggy Design Brief
This brief is for Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering students only. Do not use
this brief if you are an Aeronautical and Aerospace student or Medical Engineering student.
Mech1206 Design and Manufacture 1 1

Your task is to design and make a powered buggy to compete in a competition. Below you can
find the list of design requirements that your vehicle shall satisfy in order to compete.
• The buggy shall carry a payload (accelerometer) of around 20g mass and dimensions
approximately 70 × 50 × 10mm. The mass and dimensions are subject to change. The
longest side of the payload shall be aligned with the direction of travel. The payload
shall remain intact and undamaged at all times.
• The buggy shall use up to 4, No 38 rubber bands (shown in figure 1) as the only power
source. Rubber bands will be provided. Only rubber bands supplied by the School may
be used. The energy stored in the rubber band(s) is the only means to drive the
vehicle.

Figure 1, rubber band No 38 dimensions

• The buggy shall be released from a neutral start position, i.e. not pushed nor pulled.
The only interaction that a team member can have with the launch process is to
release the vehicle without imparting any force.
• The buggy shall compete on a race track of specified distance (L). For heats, L = 5 m;
and for the final, L = 9 m (Figure 2).

Figure 2, details of buggy track

• The buggy shall withstand collision into a wall as it crosses the finish line.
• Nothing must detach from the buggy at any time.
• The buggy shall be in contact with the ground at all times.
• No pre-formed parts may be used, e.g. LEGO, K’nex, etc.
• All materials for the buggy will be supplied by the University. You must complete the
Materials Requisition Form with the quantities you require by 6/12/2022 in order to
be supplied with the items your team needs. A blank copy of the Materials
Requisition Form is available on Minerva.
• Precut gears as detailed in the materials requisition form. If you want different gears,
you will be allowed to cut them yourselves, subject to availability of the laser cutters.
• The buggy shall fit into a 250 × 250 × 250 mm cube.
Your Tasks
Use a systematic design process to design a product that responds to the brief. The design should
include:
• Project plan

©2022 University of Leeds

Mech1206 Design and Manufacture 1 2

• An elaborated design specification, and details of the concept generation and

selection process you used.
• A development of the selected concept with sufficient detail to allow it to be
manufactured as a working prototype
• Use engineering calculations to support the design of your device and predict its
performance. Use knowledge gained during the tutorials week (W8) for these
engineering calculations, such as the prediction of the maximum acceleration and
time to maximum velocity that will be experienced.
• Build 3D solid models using SolidWorks of your alternative concept designs, including
the one selected as the final design. Each member of each team should submit one
solid model, one of which should be the final design. So if there are six members of
your team, your team should submit six solid models.
• Create 2D detail and assembly drawings for your final design to define those parts
requiring manufacture and how they are assembled.
• Create 2D drawings for your final design to define those parts requiring laser cutting
by 13/12/2022 12:00 mid-day. Your files must be verified before being sent for
production. Aim to submit your 2D drawing for verification in week 10 if possible in
order to get an insight of any necessary modifications before the deadline.
• You will not be allowed to use workshops until you have met the Health & Safety
requirements.
• In Week 13, you will be allocated to time slots to make a working prototype of your
design that is capable of performing the tasks outlined in the project design brief.
Anyone who didn’t complete their workshop induction will not be allowed to use
workshops.
• Participate to compete with other teams on the performance of your device in Week
14.
• Produce a project report.
What to submit and how
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their work is submitted correctly. If you do not
submit your work as instructed then you are likely to lose marks for late submission.

What to submit When Where How

Materials Requisition By 6/12/2022 MINERVA .doc or .pdf file
Form
2D drawings (DXF & PDF Aim to submit in week MINERVA DXF & PDF. Filename
files) for laser cutting 10. Final deadline is must include the
13/12/2022 mid-day. group number.
3D solid models and the By 13/12/2022 at MINERVA Submit zip files
resulting assembly. (3D 12:00 mid-day. through a provided
solid and assembly link on Minerva for
models representing one each team.

©2022 University of Leeds

Mech1206 Design and Manufacture 1 3

concept design for each

team member)
Working prototype and Week 14 at the Design Office Compete in the race
competition beginning of your first with your design
heat with your team ID
clearly marked on it.
Photograph of working Week 14 before your MINERVA Electronically using a
prototype first heat digital photograph
Project report (As Week 14 See MINERVA .doc or .pdf file
described in the “project submission dates on
report instructions” in Minerva.
Minerva
One page reflective Week 15 See MINERVA
summary submission dates on
Minerva.
** Create a folder with the name “Team xx”, where xx is your team number, and place it in the
specified submission folder. Add (sub) folders (one per team member) to this for each concept
model. It is your responsibility to ensure that ALL part files for an assembly are present and that
the assembly file for your model can be opened by the version of SolidWorks used by staff. Do
not use characters other than English when naming parts and files as this usually causes technical
issues.
Assessment
The Design and Make Project forms 25% of the overall module mark.

Submission Assessment criteria Value in project Individual or Team

3D solid models See details on
25 marks
and assembly MINERVA
not assessed, but Credit will be
Photograph of
required for withheld if not Team(multiply by a
working prototype
submission submitted. peer assessment
Working prototype factor, nominally
25 marks between 0.8 to 1.2)
and race results
Design and make
See details on 45 marks
project report
MINERVA
One page reflective
5 marks
summary

Some health and safety rules

No lubricants (such as grease or oil), liquids or aerosols can be taken into the design office.

©2022 University of Leeds

Mech1206 Design and Manufacture 1 4

All manufacture and fabrication of your device must take place at the University.
Buggy competition procedures
The buggies should be designed to compete in the following competition.
• The competition arena will be marked out on the floor of the venue (Figure 2).
• The competition is based on a league with all teams competing against each other.
• Two buggies will start with their front most points behind line A-A and wheels or skids
touching the Design Office floor.
• The buggies will be released from the start position (not pushed or pulled) on a signal
from the starter.
• The whole buggy must be behind line A-A at the start.
• Nothing must detach from the buggy.
• The first buggy to hit the wall at B-B will win the heat.
• In the event that neither buggy reaches B-B the buggy that has nearest to B-B will win
the heat.
• Tied heats will be decided by a re-run.
• Changes may be made to the buggy between heats, but the buggy must be ready to
compete when required by the starter. If a buggy is not ready the starter will
disqualify the buggy from the heat.
• Any run in which the buggy travels outside its competition arena lane will result in the
buggy being disqualified from the heat. Note – The section of timber used for the lane
boundaries is 34mm wide x 19mm deep.
• Each buggy must pass scrutineering before being allowed to compete (i.e. meet the
weight and size criteria).
• The only power source for the buggy that may be used is up to 4 rubber bands.
(Rubber bands will be provided).
• The starters’ decisions are final.
• Rubber bands will be available 5 minutes before the time allotted for the first heat.
• The maximum time to set up before a race is 30 seconds, including the time to attach
the accelerometer.
• The winning teams and best two runners up will have their vehicle impounded 15
minutes after the end of the preliminary competition.
• Distance from line A-A to B-B, distance L, will be 5m for the preliminary competition
and 9m for the final.
• The starter's decision is final.
• Unless advised otherwise at the time of your heat the winner and 2 nd place buggy
from the preliminary race competitions together with the best two runners up will
progress to the final race competition.

©2022 University of Leeds

Mech1206 Design and Manufacture 1 5

• Only those progressing to the final competition will be able to obtain marks from the
final competition.
• Heat winners are those with the most wins. In the event of a draw the fastest
recorded time will win.
• The two runners up will be selected from the remaining teams based on their
performance during the heats. Those with the fastest times will qualify for the final.
In the event that selection of a buggy is tied as two have the same qualifying time the
buggy with the most wins will proceed to the final competition.
• If one of the selected buggies is unable to participate in the final the next fastest
runner-up (selected as above) will be invited to continue in the competition.
• All the competitions will take place in the Mechanical Engineering Design Office (5th
floor).

©2022 University of Leeds