College Design Project

[Nikhil Bajaj]

thanks for the help, guys (and gals)!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

How about a CD holder that works and id's the CD that is in the player. I find the overhead in both my Honda and Dodge vans pretty handy. Stores glasses, garage door opener but could use napkin/kleenex holder, phone, etc. Add to that, lights that actually point where you can aim them so the driver is not blinded and that stay on bright enough to read while you are waiting to pick up the kids after school. Although both cars have pullout center drawers for cups, neither does a great job on any style cup although the Dodge is adjustable, it is just not deep enough. Both have change holders but neither works well at all. Change jumps out when ever going over tracks or potholes. The net in between the center seats on the Dodge collects a lot of stuff but what most people need is a removable trash holder, map storage, a good place to put a snow brush, gloves and hat (for northern winters) and for long trips a power inverter for plugin appliances like laptops, DVD players, etc. One thing that is never available is a high current 12 volt outlet that is fused and can deliver more than 20 amps without voltage loss. (Ham radio mobile operators would love if this were possible.)

[mechanicalbrain]

Actually ill share my plan for my college project and feel free to also do it. I want to make a autonomous RC helecopter running on a gumstix. Yeah i know they exist but i would still like to make my own!

[Nikhil Bajaj]

Okay, thanks for all the input, guys. We are always looking for more input...and I think we've got a better idea of design criteria/customer requirements down. If you could, it would be really helpful if you could please rate these items from 1-7, 1 being the most important to you in the product, and 7 being the least. These items are the ones we're looking at most closely.

Note, these are the performance, non-given kind of components. We're going to have cupholders of some sort and internal lighting and other "given" sort of things, this is more about additional cool stuff.

Lockable storage area:
Lunch box/removable storage area:
Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray:
External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc:
Adjustability in cupholders:
Folder/Business Papers Slot:
Power Inverter:

Also, for those of you interested in a power inverter, what kind of wattage might be required?

Thanks, you guys have been really helpful.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Okay, thanks for all the input, guys.

Lockable storage area:
Lunch box/removable storage area:
Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray:
External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc:
Adjustability in cupholders:
Folder/Business Papers Slot:
Power Inverter:

Also, for those of you interested in a power inverter, what kind of wattage might be required?

Thanks, you guys have been really helpful.

7 Lockable storage area:
6 Lunch box/removable storage area:
5 Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray:
2 External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc:
1 Adjustability in cupholders:
3 Folder/Business Papers Slot:
4 Power Inverter:

Also, for those of you interested in a power inverter, what kind of wattage might be required? At least 200 W.

[Andy Baker]

7. Lockable storage area:
3. Lunch box/removable storage area:
2. Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray:
6. External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc:
4. Adjustability in cupholders:
1. Folder/Business Papers Slot:
5. Power Inverter:


AB

[Katie Reynolds]

6. Lockable storage area
5. Lunch box/removable storage area
4. Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray
2. External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc
1. Adjustability in cupholders
3. Folder/Business Papers Slot
7. Power Inverter

[Conor Ryan]

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Lockable storage area

1, not many cars have this. It'd be pretty unique. Just make sure that the instaliation makes it part of a car and not an accessory that can be ripped out easily. Also if it was out of plain site it'd be a little better

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Lunch box/removable storage area

5, Handy, if it was cooled or heated it'd be higher on the list.

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray

4, just make sure both the driver and passanger can use it. And people behind too. Also make it easy to clean.

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc

7, cars already have map lights, but they aren't snake lights. I'd reconmend a removable and recharagable flash light

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Adjustability in cupholders

2, no matter what you do you can't have cups flying around the car

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Folder/Business Papers Slot

3, definetly would keep a car organized

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Power Inverter

6, Some cars have one, and there are a lot of adaptors out there, but according to my mom, who I consulted on this with, other things are more important in the car, although as a Geek, Its first on my list.

Originally Posted by nikkibajbaj

Also, for those of you interested in a power inverter, what kind of wattage might be required?

Enough to Charge a laptop.

[KyleGilbert45]

5. Lockable storage area
4. Lunch box/removable storage area
1. Fold-out or slide-out laptop/work tray
3. External snake-light type solution for map reading, etc
7. Adjustability in cupholders
2. Folder/Business Papers Slot
6. Power Inverter