We designed a hydraulic-powered tricycle that replaces a conventional chain drive with a hydraulic transmission. When the rider pedals, the motion drives a pump that pressurizes hydraulic fluid stored in an accumulator. This stored pressure acts as an energy reservoir; when a valve opens, pressurized fluid flows to a hydraulic motor that drives the wheels forward.
To improve system efficiency, we redesigned the hydraulic circuit to incorporate two accumulators for fluid routing and modified the gear system to smooth power output. These changes balanced fluid pressure across the circuit and increased the gear ratio. We also developed a complete 3D digital assembly of the vehicle to verify part fit and integration on the existing frame prior to fabrication.
With all components delivered, we assembled the vehicle and conducted an extensive testing phase to verify proper function across all subsystems, making additional adjustments where testing indicated they were necessary. These combined improvements produced a more reliable vehicle with stronger competition performance.
This project demonstrates the importance of design selection and sub-system integration in fluid power applications—a domain widely used in construction and manufacturing but with limited hands-on exposure in undergraduate engineering education due to safety concerns and high equipment costs.
