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Home >> Case Studies >> SMART idea for Rapid Product Development

SMART idea for Rapid Product Development

3T RPD Ltd, a member of the RPDG, has purchased a SMART car, and the project will be based at their Newbury premises. The aim is to replicate or re-design components on the car, and re-build them using various techniques including Polyurethane Vacuum Casting and SLS. The car will then be driven in normal everyday conditions to actively demonstrate their functionality in true working environments, thereby increasing the database of knowledge surrounding the technology being used.

3T will be offering the opportunity to Final Year Students in the South East region to work on this project. With involvement from the University of Portsmouth and the Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, they will have access to a vast range of rapid prototyping facilities, 3D CAD and measurement techniques. With 3T boasting the UK's largest capacity for Selective Laser Sintering, they will be able to design, develop, prototype and test a range of components on the SMART car.

smart car dashboard The initiative for ideas rests with the students, however some existing proposals include:-

Customising existing features such as headlamp surrounds and hub caps to provide bespoke visual identity.
New internal and external accessories such as cup holders and sports equipment racks to be conceived, designed, prototyped and tested in situ.
Potentially, the performance of the car could be enhanced . . .
- through the use of air scoops to force more air into the engine
- the air dam for aerodynamic performance
- the in-car entertainment system upgraded to include powerful speakers

smart engine As this project will be totally run and controlled from within the RPDG, there will be no limit on the publication of test results, unlike the usual company confidentiality restrictions encountered.

It is expected that a steady stream of information will be generated that can be disseminated throughout industry, and regular updates on progress and test results will be published by 3T on both their own website (www.3trpd.co.uk) and that of the RPDG (www.rpdg.co.uk).

So watch this space!

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