spacye
September 2024 - Present
Challenge
This personal project merges elements of a retrofit and a restomod plan, aiming to challenge the electric mobility market by repurposing time-tested vehicles and minimizing the waste of fuel-engine vehicles through upcycling. To modernize a 40-year-old scooter, it incorporates a new interactive system and infotainment software.
Tasks performed
mechnical & electrical engeneering
software development
infotaintment system development
prototyping
interaction design
My role
I am responsible for performing the mechanical engineering, design, software development, and electrical conversion aspects of the project.
general project’s overview
Electric mobility often promotes a consumerist ideology that encourages people to discard their old vehicles in favor of new electric ones. To align with a more eco-friendly recycling approach, I chose to recycle as many parts as possible from the original donor Spacy, resulting in approximately 85% of the original parts being reused.
This project presented technical challenges in transitioning from a fuel-engine to an electric vehicle. It required designing the battery and its casing, overhauling the entire swing arm assembly to accommodate the motor wheel while preserving the distinctive design of the Honda Spacy. The casing was specifically crafted to utilize the fuel tank space and designed to be removable for charging separately from the vehicle. Additionally, the scooter features a charging port for convenient charging in various contexts.
Infotaintment System
The new infotainment system will be incorporated into the original dashboard to stay true to the scpacy’s design. However, while inspired by retro-futuristic styles, the dashboard will integrate modern features. To ensure easy updatability, the information display will be organized in a modular grid. Morover, previous studies have shown that color can effectively convey information without requiring the rider to focus on reading text.
Directly inspired by HAL 9000, the scooter will also be equipped with a custom voice assistant based on ChatGPT to provide directions or assist with other needs. It is assumed that voice-based assistance will be less disruptive than supplementary text information unrelated to vehicle control.
head-up projector
The Spacye is an experimental lab dedicated to developing unique ideas and special features to enhance the riding experience. Based on my research, I want to pursue the development of a head-up display (HUD) while avoiding its common discomforts such as dizziness, congestion, and weight. A system that projects essential information, such as navigation steps, directly onto the road could reduce the rider’s cognitive load while keeping their eyes focused on the main point of attention.
