PROJECT OVERVIEW
Our team, Team Vaayu, aims to reduce the current output rates of emissions in the world's second most populous country, India. The name Vaayu, meaning air in Hindi, was decided upon based on the solution that was ultimately chosen. After researching the largest sources of pollutants in India and the ease with which each pollutant source could be addressed, it was decided that auto rickshaws in urban India present the most interesting challenges.
Rickshaws are the most common mode of transportation in India's largest cities and account for the largest source of particulate matter. They are most polluting when they are either accelerating or braking. Therefore, we decided that our goal should be to implement a cost-effective and retrofittable regenerative braking system. Several current technologies were considered but eventually a compressed air regenerative system was chosen due to its low cost as well as ease of installation without need for major modifications to the existing powertrain. |