The innovation subsection will continue in the design phase, working to finalize the concepts generationg and testing the feasibility. The design will then be analyzed and will be tested and implemented in the spring.

Each year, ASME judges set three topics of interest for teams to focus on in their design of a Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) entry. In 2014, ASME has placed this emphasis on: Weather proofing, rider safety, and sustainable manufacturing. The members of the 2014 design team have chosen to pursue each of these topics in the design and fabrication of their entry to the HPVC. As the competition approaches, the team members will collectively select the topic which is performing best for presentation to the judges at competition as our innovative solution to the problem they’ve identified.

While none of the designs conceived under the innovation design umbrella are critical to the basic operation of the new entry, these concepts will go towards further improving the HPV as a viable, safe and comfortable replacement for traditional automobiles. A human powered vehicle that performs successfully in the marketplace as an alternative to the car will need features such as those found on automobiles. Because of this the team will be drawing much of its inspiration from the relatively advanced automotive industry while still remaining loyal to the environmentally friendly, health conscious culture associated with human powered vehicles.