Modular front lamp to a combat vehicle : With focus on modern design and manufacturability

Abstract: The purpose of the project is to, with the help of relevant course literature, knowledge obtained from previous courses and with the help of supervisor and colleagues, produce a concept suggestion of how the front lamp to a combat vehicle could be designed. The purpose is also, with the help of meticulous documentation and structured work, to do a project that it will possible to continue working on and eventually construct a prototype from. The methods that were used during this project were for example WBS, scrum board, Gantt-schedule and elimination matrix. The project started with a planning phase where the project plan and time schedules were set up. Then was the pilot study which is used to gather the knowledge needed to carry out the project. The information gathered in the pilot study were then summarized in a criterion matrix in the product specification. These criterions were then used in the concept selection phase as guidelines when generation ideas and develop concepts. After the concept selection three concept were chosen and presented for the employer and, in conjunction with the employer, it was decided to combine these concepts into one. 3D-models were then done with the help of CAD (Computer Aided Design) to illustrate this combined concept and associated material selection and manufacturing methods were done. The conclusion of this project was that the amount of innovative ideas and solutions were limited since the product is regulated by military standards and criterions from customers. Therefore, the outcome of the project is similar to previous versions, which is unfortunate, since the goal with the project were to come up with new and innovative concepts of how to design the front lamp. But even though this concepts design looks like the old design, it has few completely new things to it that haven’t existed in previous versions. It was also realized how much time you save during the project if you do a detailed planning at the start of the project and how valuable it is to be structured in the work process. Further work that is needed to be done on the project before the production of a prototype are calculations of the cost to manufacture and produce the product, strength calculations of the stress concentrations etc., and drawings of the product. The components of the front lamp, i.e. horn, lamps, sensors etc., also need to be selected in accordance with the criterion matrix.