Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
To: Dr. Harackiewicz, Dr. Weston, Mrs. Purcell
From: Team 78
Date: 12/07/2011
Subject: [495] End of Proposal Memo
To update the SEC Management on our progress, Team 78 has included the following in this memo:
Resources Needed, Time Log, Project Management Assessment, Recommendations, and Skills Learned.
Resources Needed:
Moonbuggy Cost Proposal
Items on hand indicated with $0
Item
Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 8022
Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brakes
Forte Convert Platform Pedals
4130 Chrome-moly 1”x1” square
4130 Chrome-moly 1”x2” rectangular
Green LEDs
Electrical Wiring
Momentary push button switch
9V Battery
Microcontroller ATMega 168
Buttons/Controls
Contour 1300 Hands free Camcorder
Parallax GPS Receiver w/ext antenna
Forte Terramax 26” wheel
Panaracer Smoke Classic MTB Tire
Nuts, bolts, misc.
Risse Racing Coil Shocks
Seat Frames
TOTAL:
Quantity
2
2
2
20ft
20ft
5
10ft
2
1
1
5
1
2
4
4
n/a
2
2
Price
$1600
$152
$120
$200
$300
$12.50
$7.99
$6.38
$3.79
$4.68
$15
$100
$79.99
$400
$100
$75
$0
$0
$3177.33
Project Management Assessment:
To keep the project on schedule and under budget, we set strict deadlines, and divided the work so that
we each had a part in each assignment. We held regular meetings each week to keep everyone up-todate on what had been completed, and also emailed all documents and assignments to each team
member, to ensure everyone had a copy for their review and records.
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Recommendations to Future Engineers:
1.
Select a project that you have a personal interest in. This will ensure that you will enjoy
working on the project.
2. Select a project that is reasonable to do within the allotted time. This will decrease stress the
chance of the project being “thrown together” at the last minute.
3. Set reasonable deadlines, and do everything you can to stick to those deadlines, in order to
make sure that the project will be completed in an organized fashion.
Skills Learned:




Teamwork
Communication
Task Division
Technical Writing
Timeline:
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Hour Log:
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Block Diagrams:
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Action Item List:
Project: Moonbuggy
Action Item List
Team #78 Members
Lisa Dohn, CpE
Jonathan Beaven, ME
Katie Damron-Stokes, ME
Kaleb Hartman, ME
Laura Bickers, ME
#
Activity
Order Mechanical Parts
1
2 Weld Frame
3 Build Seats
Cut Steering from extra steel
4
5 Assemble Powertrain
6 Mount Wheels
7 Build Hinge
8 Build Break Light System
9
Order Electrical Parts
Date: 7-Dec
Person Assigned
ALL
KH
KDS
LB
JB
KH
KH
LD
LD
Assemble Steering
LB
10
11 Order T-shirts for Competition KDS
Due
17-Jan
17-Jan
17-Jan
23-Jan
27-Jan
27-Jan
17-Jan
23-Jan
23-Jan
17-Jan
17-Jan
27-Jan
27-Jan
30-Jan
30-Jan
27-Jan
17-Jan
23-Jan
23-Jan
23-Jan
30-Jan
30-Jan
New Due
Status
10%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
20%
Comments
Powerstrain, Steering,
Suspension
In Machine shop
Wood, Foam, & Steel
Extra ordered with Frame
metal
Pedals, Chain, Transmission
Axels and four wheels
Center of Frame with latch
Visible for the rear driver
Video Camera,
Speedometer, GPS
Tie Rods, and levers attached
to wheels
Reuse last years Logo
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Meeting Agendas
Moonbuggy Meeting Agenda (08/25/11)
1. Decide scheduling and financial officers
(Has the new constitution been filed with the RSO office?)
2. Decide regular meeting times for a Moonbuggy Team Meeting every other week
~Discuss Flyers and publicity for the first team meeting
3. Discuss the work load division and potential new members for Sr. Design Team
4. New Sponsorship Packet----Ask for a volunteer
~Packet needs to be informative and something that any member could be proud of and
give out freely
5. Other potential fundraising ideas (Everyone be thinking)
~Wristbands we still have over 400 of them and every one we sell will be our profit!
~Reduction in price?
~Portions of wristband sales paid for the wristbands, t-shirts, and snacks for competition
6. Draw up Cost Proposal for New Buggy
The Cost Proposal needs to be typed and submitted to Dr.Chu for approval. Then it must
be delivered to department offices to reserve funds for competition in the spring
~parts, wheels, etc.
~travel costs (approx. from last year)
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
New Member Meeting (08/31/11)
Wed. August 31 in B137 @ 4:00pm
Introductions: Current Members, officers, Senior Design Team
What is Moonbuggy all about?
An RSO is a student registered organization. It is a good idea to join an RSO like Moonbuggy, keep
listening and you’ll see. The Moonbuggy Team is a RSO. Our Team is centered around a Moonbuggy
Competition in the spring. As a team we are to build a Moonbuggy to race. There are rules and
requirements to qualify. Each team runs twice and they count your best time. The track is ¾ ofa mile
long and has obstacles all along the way. The obstacles include sharp turns, hills, pot holes, loose gravel,
sand, and concrete craters.
Caleb: History of Moonbuggy at SIUC
The Moonbuggy competition was created in honor of the original Lunar Rover Vehicle driven on the
moon. This past year we got to see the anniversary presentation and meet some of the men that have
walked on the moon! The original design required the buggy to fold into a triangular compartment.
Therefore as part of competition our buggy must fold into a 4’X4’X4’ box.
SIUC entered the NASA sponsored competition for the first time in 1998 . Dr. Chu is our faculty advisor
and has been form the start. We have continued to participate in competition over the years. The past
two years have been extraordinarily successful in that we finished the race and were ranked in the top
10 teams!!! We want to continue the streak of success.
Moonbuggy Constitution:
The Moonbuggy constitution is posted on our wall; you may read it at your leisure. It defines what being
a member of the team is. An active member comes to the meetings and work times, is involved in
fundraising, and has the ability to vote in regular meetings. An inactive member doesn’t always come to
meetings, is out of touch, and has no right to vote. You choose which kind of member you want to be.
Lisa: Being a Moonbuggy member
Any student can benefit from being a member of an RSO. Joining a team like Moonbuggy gives you a lot
of freedom in design we have competition requirements but they are very open ended. There is no
manual or step by step instructions for building a buggy, like other RSO’s may have. Being a member of
the Moonbuggy Team allows you to have some real life experience with project management, it’s
impressive to put on your resume, you can go to competition in the spring, and you can brag about our
success. There are many opportunities for every kind of student. You may choose to participate in
fundraising, Engineering Day (held in February, graphic design (like making flyers or advertising), an
officer’s position, AutoCAD design, or hands-on work in the machine shop.
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Kaleb: Construction of the buggy
For last year’s competition we modified a buggy that was a senior design project from the previous year.
It is currently located in the engineering breezeway. It’s an AL three-rail frame, with 2 forward facing
drivers. There is no minimum or maximum weight for competition, but ours was significantly heavier
than most. At competition they give an award to the “Featherweight” or the lightest buggy. Two years
ago the featherweight was about 100lbs(ours 249lbs) and this past year was 76lbs (ours 229lbs). We
needed to lighten the frame and change up the steering. We cut away extra material that was
unnecessary and dropped 20lbs off the buggy. We ordered u-joints for the steering and that increased
our turning radius dramatically. We changed other things as well. To re-enter a buggy it is required that
a ___% modification be made. This year we are building a new buggy from scratch and it will probably
be a steel design with either a single frame rail or a truss.
Ryan: About Competition
The competition in the spring is held in Huntsville, AL at NASA’s Space and Rocket Center. Teams from
all over the world come to compete. There is a high school and a college division approximately 80
teams total. That’s a lot of buggies. This is a great opportunity to meet other teams and talk about their
design or the problems they have run into with construction. This year we talked to the team from
Germany quite a bit. They have a lot of sponsors and there buggy was awesome! It had 28 gears and it
would go like 50 miles an hour! SIUC is allowed to enter 2 buggies into competition per year. Another
buggy could be built (if there is enough interest) Competition requires a weekend of your time we
usually get out of classes for Thursday and Friday. There is a lot to learn in Huntsville.
Katie: About Sr. Design
All mechanical, civil, and electrical, engineering majors will have to take ME 495 their senior year. Lisa,
Kaleb, Jonathan, and I are forming the Sr. Design Team this year. We areallowed to be in an RSO and Sr.
Design simultaneously. Any Sr. Design team consists of 4-6 members those members are required to
build a project working together, writing reports, logging hours, keeping a design notebook, etc. The
team members will be graded individually. The senior design team is not intended to overtake the
Moonbuggy Team, but the fact we are getting a grade motivates us to work in a different way. A second
buggy project could work right along with us and be very successful. You all will be seniors soon so step
up and let us teach you what we have learned the last 2 years so Moonbuggy can continue to be a
successful RSO for SIUC.
Closing introductions:
(Quickly around the room: name, major, favorite candy, what you would do with a million dollars, etc…)
Keep in mind engineering majors that we all have to go through similar classes to graduate. The
returning members are a resource if you need help, advice, or directions.
~DISMISS~
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Moonbuggy Meeting 3rd Week (09/07/11)
Important for Moonbuggy’s success
-sell wristbands
-get sponsors (sponsorship packet)
-work on the accumulation of Moonbuggy Property
*such as tools, cabinets, shelves, t-shirts, stickers with our logo, computer for our buggy room
with inventor on it, canopy for competition
-Design*Teams that performed well at competition: What were the contributing factors?
*What parts can be used from existing structures?
(Bicycles, motorcycle, ATVs, lawn mower, etc…)
*Out of the box thinking is great, BUT let’s not reinvent the wheel
-Material*All the parts in this room can be used and they are FREE
*Parts can be ordered, BUT there has to be a PLAN
(What size, how much, how do we pay for it, when do we need this part/material by?)
-Construction*The Machine Shop on the ground floor is available during the day
*Tim Attig is over the shop. He has agreed to show our team the shop next week.
The available times are
- Monday 12-3pm
-Wednesday 12-3pm
-Friday 12-3pm
I have posted on the board the weeks in this semester. There are 11 work weeks left. We’ve
brought in videos and pictures from competition last year. Use these as examples and drawn out some
ideas. Right now we are going to spilt into Sr. Design and Club Teams, talk to your teammates.
Remember you are part of a team now. In the future when you are working you don’t get to choose
who you work with. Do not create problems and respect each other we are all here to learn.
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Moonbuggy Meeting 4th Week (09/14/11)
There is a MEETING NEXT WED @ 4:00
*Fill out availability and Interest forms
* Have Lisa give membership Report ( official List of Members)
*Read the Importance of Design
* Pass out slips of paper
With the following words:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Wheels
Seats
Steering Design
Frame
A-arms
Brakes
Suspension under seats
Drivetrain
Paintjob
Accessories(req for comp)
U-joints
Mounting Bracket for GPS
Pedals
Hinge
Tierods
Driver selection
Testing(durability)
Tie Rods
Assembly time practice
Helmets gloves
Sponsorship packet
Tool box
AutoCAD/Inventor Design
T-shirts
Suspension Front wheels
Steering Mechanism
Thank You Cards
Competition
Install GPS
Wristband Sales
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Senior Design Meeting Agenda (09/20/11)

The Management Meeting is scheduled for Thursday (09/29/11) next week for ME 495

It is time to start accomplishing the tasks designated on the Action Item List
For this week: Choose the first action item with your initials and accomplish that task by
Tuesday of next week

Next Senior Design Meeting is tomorrow (09/22/11) after ME 495. We can meet in the ME
Computer Lab or B137.

The goals of tomorrows’ meeting are: share the research you have done on your individual
subsystem

Design notebooks need to be in progress. It was the second week of school (08/30 or 09/01)
that we assigned :
Kaleb Hartman-Frame
Laura Bickers-Steering
Jonathan Beaven-Drive Train
Katie Damron-Stokes-Suspension
Lisa Dohn-GPS/electrical monitoring equipment
The research you do concerning your action item needs to be documented in your design notebook
#
Activity
1 Compile Sponsor Call List
2 Seats
3 Seat Belts
4 Wheels (Tires & Rims)
5 Shocks (Cost, Size, Material)
6 Frame Material
7 Frame Dimensions
8 Differentials
9 Tie Rods (Material, Cost, Premade)
10 Rules of Competition
11 Overall Dimensions
12 Pedals
13 Electronic Components
14 Powertrain
15 Frame Hinge
16 Brakes
17 Frame Design
18 Steering Design
19 Suspension Design
20 Timeline
21 Action Item List
22 Literature Review
23 Website
Person
KD, LD
LB
JB
LB
KD
KH
KH
JB
LB
LD
ALL
JB
LD
JB
KH
KD
KH
LB
KD
LD
LB
ALL
LD
Assigned
Due
15-Sep
20-Sep
15-Sep
New Due
Status
Comments
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Moonbuggy Meeting Agenda
Week 5 (09/21/11)
Most important:
The orientation tours of the machine shop were a failure and I apologize for any inconvenience
this may have caused you. Our Vice President Jonathan is going to show us all around. So at this
time let’s head downstairs.
*Cost estimates
-Need a ball park for both buggies
-Next week we will request department money
*Establish new meeting time
-Regular meetings will be every other week (only 5 regular meetings left this semester)
(Sorry, this doesn’t mean free time. If we’re going to build 2 buggies this means work harder)
-Meetings for Club team and Sr. Design team need to be decided
-Regular meetings will be for reporting progress
Options for New Regular Meeting times
-Mon. any time after 12:00
-Wed. preferably earlier than 4:00
-Fri. between 12:00 and 4:00
*Wristbands
-Need to schedule selling times at Faner especially while the weather cooperates
-Fundraiser ideas? Keep thinking
-Do we have 12 people willing to sell concessions at a football game?
*T-shirt Design Ideas
-Are there t-shirt designs in progress, please present your work
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Management Meeting Agenda (09/29/11)
Project objective:
The Great Moonbuggy Race is held in honor of the original Mars Rover and some of the
requirements coincide with the design criteria NASA faced in 1971. The Moonbuggy is focused
on the annual competition held in Huntsville, AL at NASA’s Space and Rocket Center.
Competition consists of a time trial race over a ¾ mile course and the best time wins.
The basic buggy requirements include:

Buggy must be human powered

1 female and 1 male driver/rider

Design must fold into a 4’x4’x4’ cube

Buggy must be carried 20 feet by the two drivers

15” ground clearance

Must have a turning radius of at least 15 feet

Must have simulated antenna, control panel, two batteries, TV camera
Drivers for competition:
Laura Bickers and Kaleb Hartman
Divisions of Systems:
Jonathan Beaven, ME
Laura Bickers, ME
Katie Damron-Stokes, ME, PM
Lisa Dohn, CpE
Kaleb Hartman, ME
Drive Train
Steering
Suspension
Electrical Component
Frame
Other Responsibilities:
Lisa Dohn
Laura Bickers
Jonathan Beaven
Kaleb Hartman
Katie Damron-Stokes
Memo, Website
Action Item List, ME 477 Inventor
ME 477 Inventor, Machine Shop Assistant
AutoCAD, Ordering of Parts
Project Manager, Agenda
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Moonbuggy Meeting Agenda Week 7 (10/05/11)

Welcome Back Everyone!

Moonbuggy to be in the Homecoming Parade. Volunteers?

Fundraising Ideas?

Need to be thinking about sponsors $$$

Sponsorship Packet-Ryan?

Report from Sr. Design
Driver Decisions- Kaleb Hartman and Laura Bickers will be the drivers for the Sr. Design Team
Management Meeting- update the whole team
Literature Review Report- Each member speak about respective topic

Report from the Club Buggy
What has been accomplished thus far?
Set demands for the next regular meeting

Schedule next regular meeting for following WED

It’s a beautiful day let’s take the old buggy outside
Moonbuggy Team #78
Members: Jonathan Beaven, Laura Bickers, Katie Damron-Stokes, Lisa Dohn, Kaleb Hartman
Management Meeting Agenda 10/18/11
The next phase of the Moonbuggy Project will be ordering parts. The majority of the
funding for our project will be coming from companies and individuals outside the University.
Until the funds become available we have continued to research potential parts, complete ME
495 assignments posted on the website, and conduct research for the design. The Action Item
List has been updated weekly. The electrical component has been more clearly defined in its
function. The preliminary tests for the forces on the frame are in progress and will be referred to
as the frame design progresses. The block diagram which follows the flow of power through the
system has been completed and posted on the website and can also be seen in the project binder.
A list of potential sponsors is also present in the project binder.
Parts to Buy:
Chrome-moly Material
Rohloff Transmission(s)
Pedal mounts
Parts in our possession:
Coil shocks
Chain
Seat frames
Division of Tasks
Action Item List
Laura Bickers
Electrical Component
Lisa Dohn
Forces on Frame Test
Kaleb Hartman
Block Diagram
Jonathan Beaven
Potential Sponsors
Katie Damron-Stokes
Management Meeting Agenda 10/27/11
The next phase of the Moonbuggy Project will be ordering parts. Until the funds become
available we have continued to research potential parts, complete ME 495 assignments posted on
the website, and conduct research for the design.
In preparation of construction the team has completed analysis on the torque load on the
transmission system(s) and the load forces on the frame. The Action Item List has been updated
with the current hours each team member has logged thus far. The electrical component has been
more clearly defined in its function with the addition of a separate block diagram. The final draft
of the literature review is on the website along with the revision of project specifications. The
block diagram for the entire system has been completed and posted on the website. A list of
potential sponsors is also present in the project binder.
Parts to Buy:
Chrome-moly Material
Rohloff Transmission(s)
Pedal mounts
Parts in our possession:
Coil shocks
Chain
Seat frame
Division of Tasks
Action Item List (updated with hours)
Laura Bickers
Electrical Component(Block Diagram)
Lisa Dohn
Forces on Frame Test(Continued)
Kaleb Hartman
Transmission Torque Tests
Jonathan Beaven
Block Diagram Revision
Katie Damron-Stokes
Moonbuggy Meeting Agenda
Wednesday 11/16/11
Wristband Sales- scheduled for Friday 11/18/11, Monday11/21/11, Monday 11/28/11
All sale dates are from 12-2pm in the Engineering Breezeway
Speech
Project Moonbuggy does not come with a set of instructions. Remember at the beginning
of the semester when we lined up pieces of paper on this table as our timeline. We are now to the
part where we NEED to order parts. We also need to think long and hard about our decisions and
our funding. If there are dimensions, measure them twice before ordering material and measure it
a couple more times before cut s are made. Think about reducing the mass and keeping your
design as simple as possible. If there is any aspect of the design process you are unsure of ask
questions. Talk out solutions to your problems; we have resources on all levels at our fingertips.
Try not to get overwhelmed with Moonbuggy. Start with the frame, then the drivetrain,
and step by step the project will be completed, not all at once. In engineering there is always
great potential to learn. I have been given homework that seemed impossible at first glance. By
the time it was due I understood it, sometimes it took me a few tries to get it right and I had to
get some help, but I understood it in the end. Moonbuggy is the same way. Remember there is a
BIG difference between I don’t understand and I didn’t try. This project is a great learning
experience that requires a student with a curiosity for solving real life problems. Don’t back
down from this challenge.
Presentations
Kaleb Hartman has been developing the basic plan for the frame of the Sr. Design Buggy. Please
share your work with the group as well as the reasons behind your decisions.
Last Moonbuggy Meeting of the Semester
(12/07/11)
B137 @ 4:00pm
Proposal: get it edited, printed, and bound
The final draft needs to be sent to Lisa to post on the website
End of Proposal Memo: Lisa is going to compile the document
Team Evaluations: on Blackboard will only take 5 minutes to complete
The 4130 Chrome-moly steel has been ordered will get here in 2-3 weeks
Plans for Moonbuggy over break:
The CAFS office will have regular business hours over break and will close for holidays when the
entire university is closed
We need to orderRohloff hubs, pedals, disc brakes, wheels
We need to fabricateAccessories required for competition, frame, seat mounts, a-arms, pedal mounts
Please contact me overbreak with anything concerning Moonbuggy
Katie Damron-Stokes
(618) 525-3914