FLIT

Case Study

Date
5th July 2021 to 30th August 2021
Summary

Hercules x FLIT 2021 was an 8 week long project that consisted of a team of 5 undergraduate students, led by Charles Gai. The project began on 5th July with applicant interviews and the first client meeting taking place on 12th July.

FLIT is an engineering company based in Cambridge that specialises in foldable E-Bikes. We were tasked with developing a functional test rig that performed various tests on their bike frames; these tests explored their mechanical, thermodynamic and UV - resistance properties, to name but three. Over the course of the project, work was conducted with a hybrid of in-person and online engagement. Furthermore, structured weekly progress meetings were held with FLIT.

Our approach
Initially, the project was tailored towards the structural design of the test rig. However, the main deliverables were quickly altered upon the client’s request. The focus was shifted towards the development of vibration and thermal testing as well as data processing and feedback from the existing mechanical test rig (Raspberry Pi coding). The team therefore agreed to split into two sub-teams, each taking on a separate aspect of the project. The team leader then assigned each team member with separate tasks based on their background and interest. In terms of timeline, the project can be divided into three main stages:
  1. Two weeks of background research and material sourcing
  2. Two weeks of in-depth research and detailed design
  3. Four weeks of in-person prototyping/part-assembly or coding/troubleshooting
The outcome
The project successfully met the client’s demand and even provided additional auxiliary features upon completion. The main deliverables includes:
  1. A functioning thermal testing chamber with detailed documentation on calculations and background theory
  2. A set of detailed CAD designs for the vibration test machine ready for manufacturing
  3. A programmed control system for existing mechanical test machine with custom touchscreen
  4. Detailed design of mountings for various mechanical tests
All information was thoroughly documented and shared with the client through the medium of Google Drive and Notion Page.
Client testimonial

Working with HC was great. We had the chance to work with a team of driven students who were a good fit for the project. All reporting and time management was taken care of by HC. We are looking forward to working with HC again soon!

Dave Henderson
Founder & CTO at FLIT