College - Author 1

College of Engineering

Department - Author 1

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Mechanical Engineering

College - Author 2

College of Engineering

Department - Author 2

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 2

BS in Mechanical Engineering

College - Author 3

College of Engineering

Department - Author 3

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 3

BS in Mechanical Engineering

College - Author 4

College of Engineering

Department - Author 4

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 4

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Date

12-2022

Primary Advisor

Eileen Rossman, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

This document presents the engineering design process used to develop, manufacture, and test a new and improved iteration of a hitch cart prototype. This process was performed by a team of four mechanical engineering seniors as part of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s senior design pathway. The goal of this project was to develop a sturdy and reliable iteration of our sponsor’s hitch cart prototype, that integrated the functionality of a vehicle hitch cargo platform and that of a height adjustable cargo cart into a single streamlined and easy to use product. This design could be used by tradesmen, and outdoor enthusiast to not only transport heavy equipment and cargo to where they’re going, but also offer a form of easily maneuverable cargo transportation once they get there. While similar designs currently exist, none incorporate an adjustable height platform and are either difficult to attach and remove from the vehicle, have a low loading capacity and small storage footprint, or are designed for small vehicle applications. Based on preliminary testing, our design appears to be a promising product that is robust and addresses many of the limitations of competing designs. Future refinement of the design can be done to further improve user experience and increase the potential for use on a wider range of vehicle sizes and hitch classes.

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