Open Source Car/Research Development

These are the GVCS development steps that take place for Distributive Economics development of the GVCS tools. These 32 steps apply to each prototype of the GVCS machines, and each machine iterates through 3 prototypes prior to Full Product Release.

Conceptual design

The OS Car will be a lightweight and aerodynamic two passenger car that will be fueled with ethanol biodiesel. The current plan is for the car to have a reverse trike configuration: two front wheels and one rear wheel which is the only driven wheel. The two main benefits of the reverse trike design are lower cost and weight due to one less wheel, and lower wind drag due to the highly tapered rear portion of the vehicle. The construction of the car will be a steel space frame covered with non-structural polymer or composite panels. The proposed powertrain is a hybrid hydraulic system which includes a single cylinder engine that runs a hydraulic pump which directly powers a hydraulic wheel motor used to drive the car and which compresses a gas in an accumulator to store energy. Gas in the accumulator will also be compressed via regenerative braking when the hydraulic motor is run in reverse to slow the car down. Cost control and quick development will be maintained by using donor vehicle parts and off-the-shelf parts. Components that cannot be easily manufactured such as brake calipers, steering knuckles, and rims will be sourced from a donor vehicle and components such as instruments, wiring, seats will be off-the-shelf components.

As the car design matures, some components from donor vehicles and off-the-shelf components can be replaced by scratch-built open source components. Also, forks can be made from the original car design for variants such a four or five passenger car, or perhaps a car with a hybrid electric powertrain.

Project Leader

A project leader needs to be recruited.

Project Manager

A project manager needs to be recruited.

Subject Matter Experts

Subject matter experts in the fields of suspension design and vehicle dynamics, and aerodynamics need to be recruited.

CAD Designers

Two or three CAD designers need to be recruited.

Fabricator

A fabricator needs to be recruited.

Marketing Manager

A marketing manager needs to be recruited.

Documenter/Videographer

A documenter/videographer needs to be recruited.

Report on industry standards and best practices

Needs to be done.

Conceptual design, diagrams, performance calculations, and performance specifications

Needs to be done.

Project Budget

Needs to be done.

Proposal Brief

Needs to be done.

The proposal brief will have a problem statement, solution (design rationale), budget, and team and will be used to obtain low-risk funding from sources such as crowd, non-profit channels, and gifts. The problem statement will define the basic need and solution defines how the need is met.

Funding Secured

Funding secured. Funding allows rapid development by contract. Funding is a general fund, and money is allocated to projects on a prioritized basis.

CAD Drawings Completed

Need to be done.

Design Rationale Documented

Needs to be done.

Fabrication Drawings Completed

(Not sure how fabrication drawings are different than CAD drawings. --Crank 14:28, 15 May 2011 (PDT))

Bill of Materials Completed

Needs to be done.

Sourcing Information

Needs to be done.

Peer Review

Needs to be done.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

Needs to be done.

Prototype Fabrication

Needs to be done.

Prototype Testing

Needs to be done.

Construction Instructional Video

Needs to be done.

Compile and publish Instructional Template

Design Rationale, Conceptual Diagram, Bill of Materials (with weblinks to sources), Demo Video, Demo Photos, Instructional Video (A to Z on the fabrication), 3d CAD file (metal fabrication), 2d fabrication drawings (metal), 2d electronics design file to build circuit boards, wiring diagram, Machine-readable CAM files, 2d Exploded Part Diagram, Computer Software Control Code for Automated Devices, Hydraulic Circuit Diagram, Calculations (for scaling purposes), Fabrication Ergonomics (time, workflow, body positions, workshop orientation, best practices of fabrication methods)

Needs to be done.

Fabrications Optimization Documentation

To promote economically-significant replication and production of a given technology, the ergonomics (time and energy requirements) of fabrication should be documented as a function of available production infrastructure.

Needs to be done.

Compile and publish User Manual Template

How it Works, Operation Procedures, Safety, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair

Needs to be done.

Open Enterprise Model published for production of technology

We are interested in distributive economics, so publishing documentation for enterprise replication is an inherent part of our post-scarcity creation strategy.

Need to be done.

 29. Open Enterprise Model published for related enterprise. Related enterprises are those which are not the production of a given technology, but the production of the products of a given technology. For example, for the CEB press, related enterprise may be construction services or the selling of bricks as building materials.
 30. User Network development. An internet user group and local user groups should be created for support in using and developing a given technology.
 31. Additional Videos published to User Network- Tips and Tricks, User-Generated Videos
 32. Augmented Reality training materials prepared for fabricator training.