I spent the summer of 2013 working at IMEC, an engineering company in Belgium, designing a hydraulic drivetrain for the Aura. The Aura is a revolutionary pedal-powered electro-assist vehicle that combines the utility of a car with the character of a bike. The hydraulic drivetrain is an important aspect of this vehicle, as it reduces the number of necessary energy conversions by allowing for the direct transmission of mechanical energy.
In the beginning of the summer, I designed a hydraulic circuit that would allow the Aura to be powered by both an electric and human powered pump, and allow for regenerative braking.
Next, I conducted performance optimizations in Matlab and contacted companies to inquire about components. I selected a hydraulic motor, an engine powered pump, a human powered pump, an engine, battery, accumulator, reservoir, tubing, and fluid for the hydraulic circuit detailed above. From these components, I produced a cost and weight analysis and created a layout of the vehicle in SolidWorks.
To ensure that the vehicle would operate effectively, I simulated the motion of the Aura in LabView, and tested it using a city drive cycle.
In addition, since a main goal of IMEC is education, I worked with a high school student to create a 3D printed model of the drivetrain to showcase to the general public. Below is the model, which includes tubing to attach to a pump, a cylinder that acts as an accumulator, and a water wheel that represents a hydraulic motor.