April 13, 2013
BACKGROUND: PGI & MOBILE FAB-LABS
• Pittsburgh Green Innovators
• Founded 5 years ago
• Focus on green economic development
• Project-based learning
• Mobile Fab-Labs
• MIT’s Center for Bits & Atoms
• Worldwide project
• Bring laboratories to less fortunate areas
THE PROJECT
REQUIREMENTS
SOLUTIONS
• Mobile laboratory
space
• 2 laboratory activity
descriptions
• Sustainability
curriculum
• 3 options for mobile
space
• Lab employs green
technology
• Vector Technology
contact
• Cost estimates
• Itemized budgets for
each option
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CURRICULA
WIND ENERGY
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
• Create crude biofuel
• Learn:
• Build scaled
windmill
• Learn:
• Rotational energy
• How & why wind energy in
renewable
• Test wind turbine on small
light source
• Materials:
• Kid Wind classroom kit
• How Biofuel is Made
• How it is a renewable
resource
• Test biofuel in generator
• Materials:
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Beakers
Graduated cylinders
Mason jars
Virgin vegetable oil
Methanol
• All materials included
Initial Cost of Experiments :
(based on a group of 24 students):
$3,000.00
VECTOR TECHNOLOGY
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•
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Product by Optimus Technologies
Allows diesel engines to run on biofuel
Currently used in Pittsburgh’s salt trucks and Giant Eagle’s food trucks
Costs about $10,000 for our mobile fab-lab
MOBILE LABORATORY SPACE OPTIONS
Option
1
Tractor
Trailer
Option
2
Pick-Up
Truck &
TowBehind
Trailer
Option
3
Box
Truck
OPTION 1:
•
Large
•
Eye-catching
•
12 laboratory
benches
•
Difficult to
maneuver
•
Commercial
license required
https://impactgs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Scania-G-Series.jpg
Vehicular Cost of
Option 1:
$105,000.00
OPTION 2:
•
•
•
•
•
Medium size
option
Less eye-catching
8 laboratory
benches
Maneuverable in
city
Vector System
compatible
Vehicular Cost of
Option 2:
$76,000.00
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/how-to-draw-cars-36.jpg
http://www.on-wholesale.com/uplaod/2010-21/Key-Chains---Rings-201062601321.jpg
OPTION 3:
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Smallest option
Eye-catching
6 laboratory
benches
Easy to maneuver
Vector Technology
compatible
Vehicular Cost of
Option 3:
$65,000.00
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/y/V/0/D/i/4/white-box-truck-hi.png
COST COMPARISON
•
The final cost analysis* includes both the cost of
the materials for each experiment and the
vehicular cost of each option.
Option 1
Option 2
Tractor Trailer
Pick-Up Truck &
Tow-Behind Trailer
$110,000.00
$80,000.00
Option 3
Box Truck
$70,000.00
* All final costs were rounded. For specific values, please see Appendix C (page 19) in the Final
Proposal.
FINAL PRODUCT
• Detailed budget for all mobile space options
• Tractor Trailer vs. Pick-Up w/ Tow Behind vs. Box Truck
• Laboratory curricula descriptions (2)
• Biofuel Production & Wind Energy material list
• PowerPoint presentations for instructive use
• Complete procedure
• Vector Technology (via Optimus Technologies)
• Information
• Contact with CEO & Business Analyst
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Thomas Bartnik - Pittsburgh Green
Innovators
Tim McMurray & Barbara Paul - Pitt
Mobile Lab
Ian Winner (Business Analyst) & Colin
Huwyler (CEO) – Optimus
Technologies
Dr. Bhavna Sharma –Mascaro Center
for Sustainable Innovation
Sina Arjmand – Swanson School of
Engineering