The Albatross 2.0 Design: The Future of Road Safety

The Albatross 2.0 Design: The Future of Road Safety

Klinkert, R.J.

Santema, S.C. (mentor)
Silvester, S. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Industrial Design

IPD + SPD + Automotive

2011-12-21

Chard Safety is a Dutch company founded in 2005 and focusing on automotive crash safety systems. The most important ongoing project is the Deceleration Responsive Seat (DRS) concept, also called “The Albatross”. The concept is an unique automotive seat which provides safety and comfort aspects. Due to the innovative construction, there is potential to develop 3-point belted seats with significantly lower mass properties. However dynamic crash tests have shown potential safety provisions (e.g. no whiplash, better occupant restraint), the design of the seat is in an early phase and a lot needs to be developed more in detail. Next to design related issues, a strategic future plan is missing and there is no long term vision about what Chard Safety look like within 10 years. These issues activated the company to approach the Technical University in Delft for taking the next steps in product development and entrepreneurship. In this study, the potential of the Albatross concept was analyzed. The fundament for visioning concerned 1) an extended research in the automotive industry, 2) interviews with experts in the field and 3) qualitative observations of current markets and vehicles. The potential of Albatross was translated to a prioritized market choice, on which the company should focus. Strategic decisions were proposed in a business model canvas (Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur). These proposals directed the key elements to become a successful and valuable company in the near future. Next to strategic input, the Albatross design has been developed to a next level; “the Albatross 2.0”. In this phase, mechanical properties and improvements have been realized. Besides, the aesthetics of Albatross were studied and implemented in an exterior proposal. Finally, usability aspects were evaluated by use of graphical representations of the final design. Passenger (school) transport markets (commercial vehicles) have shown to be very potential since the concept provides multiple safety elements in a relative simple and light weight manner. Commercial vehicles are, often, poorly provided with the actual needed safety measures, mainly due to financial reasons. Governments on national and European level (EC) are major actors in the field, since these can activate the industry by legislative enforcement. Chard Safety will continue as a knowledge centered company in 1) the field of automotive crash safety and 2) development of Albatross systems. The new philosophy of “supporting passengers in a crash” make Chard Safety unique in its segment. Revenues will be generated in a licensing-out business model strategy. Financial risks can be relative low, whereas scaling and differentiation can be rapidly achieved. In long Chard Safety will be known as an important actor in the field of road safety on international level.

design
automotive
safety
weight
comfort
usability
seat
vehicle

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0cb81082-b91a-4772-ba03-3484b5d80455

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2011 Klinkert, R.J.