Beetool is a Product Design project I worked on during 2014–2015. It was conceived and developed as part of a team for the main laboratory of the Design & Engineering Master's program at Politecnico di Milano.
BeeTool is a quadricycle designed for nomadic workers in urban settings, who carry their tools wherever they go.
The concept behind the project is to create a vehicle that adapts its morphology based on use and needs, achieved through its tilting platform.When closed, the vehicle resembles a city car, but with the platform tilted, it can carry up to 200 kg, including passenger weight. While the platform can handle a peak load of 300 kg, compliance with light quadricycle regulations limits the permissible weight to 200 kg.The vehicle also features a smaller storage compartment accessible even when the platform is open, providing additional transport space.
The Brief
BeeTool is an electric vehicle car designed to be suitable as city car and as pick-up, according to the user needs.
Briefed by Ducati Energia and developed in team for Final Project in Design & Engineering MSc at Politecnico di Milano.
The Challenge
Ducati’s brief was to explore different applications for electric quadricycles. The main idea developed during the project was to design a vehicle that would allow different categories of workers to move around the city with their equipment reaching Limited Traffic Zones without restrictions.
The vehicle is an electric quadricycle equipped with a tilting platform for transporting bulky items. It offers two configurations, adaptable based on the volume of items to be carried.
Designing a vehicle capable of such a significant transformation requires meticulous kinematic analysis, focusing on both the mechanism and the safe actions users must perform.
The cabin has been carefully designed to optimize ergonomics, ensuring comfortable seating, ease of movement while driving, and excellent visibility.
1. Research
We envisioned a figure who is both a freelance professional and, at the same time, an ordinary citizen. This person moves around, carrying the tools of their trade. They might be a plumber, a painter, a window display designer, a postman, an electrician, a musician or an instrument repairer, a designer, a gardener, a decorator, a beautician, an upholsterer, a maintenance worker, a laborer, a street cleaner, a greengrocer, a restorer, or a chimney sweep! They could also be a technician for installations, a sound engineer, a telephone installation specialist, and so on. They might deliver packages, letters, or groceries.
Key Findings
Workers with specific equipment have issues reaching Limited Traffic Zones since they are dependent by a vehicle
Electric quadricycles have several ergonomics issues
Low attentions has been dedicated to the aesthetic and usability of these kind of vehicle, so they were perceived by the user as poorly designed.
2. Design
Ideation
The main concept was to develop a quadricycle with double configuration, that would work for both private and working purposes. The working purposes we focused on were addressed to those workers that needs to bring around their equipment (e.g. maintenance, house painters, constructions, gardening etc.) in areas where common vehicles cannot circulate. A rotating open cargo would allow this double configuration.
We took care in deep of the following aspects:
Tilting cargo feasibility, functionalities and interaction
Ergonomics in driving and access to the storage areas
Frame static and dynamic equilibrium
Storage Trunk design
Electric engine integration
Suspensions
Normative
Aesthetic and finishes
3. Development
We delivered the following:
Project Brief: Comprehensive of the details of the product
Technical Report: Focused on the engineering of the frame and cargo
Material and Manufacturing Report: Outlining revenue streams and opportunities for growth.
Pitch Presentation: Explaining how seed funding would support further development and scaling of the app.
Frame Physical Prototype
Worked with
About
👋 Hi! I’m Giulia and I'm a passionate Computational Designer based in Florence.
I love solving problems, exploring creative methods and technologies, and developing innovative solutions.
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