1. Utilizing a Spring as a Kinetic Regenerative Braking System in Vehicles
Eugene Lee

2. Need Modern engines are excessively large Engine Sizes from 2000-2007
Graph 1
Engine Sizes from
For the last several years, engines have been steadily getting larger and more powerful. A larger engine only allows for greater torque and faster max speed, however, modern-day cars have max-speeds that are impractical for use for normal drivers. Modern cars waste energy by using an excessively large engine
Modern engines are excessively large

3. Diagram 1
(Martinez et al, 2008)
Domestic Transport produced 10% of total emission in Europe during 2004

4. Regenerative Braking Mostly electrical systems in use
Conversion losses

5. Regenerative Braking
Kinetic energy recovery systems do not suffer from electrical losses
Flywheel, Hydraulic, Spring systems

6. Vex Robotics Vex Robots will be used to simulate a vehicle
Example of programming setup

7. Model Design Plan Vex Robot Ratchet Spring Activator Motor
Rubber dots act as Face Gears
Spring Axle
Rack and Pinion Gears
Processing Unit
Battery
Motor
Gear separates, allowing wheels to turn
Motor
Wheels
Spring has tension
Spring attaches onto static gear
‘Gears’ intermesh, causing the Spring to spin on one end
Spring attaches onto wheel, releases energy
Turns Movement Motors
Turns Spring Activator Motor
Activate Motors

8. MATLAB
A computational program which can be used to simulate real world forces
ADVISOR - a Premade system for regenerative braking
Example code and graphical view

9.
Literature Review
Li, Chenghan; Wang, Cunzhe; Leng Pelie, Woo Pak; Wei, Thia; “Kinetic Energy Recovery System for Vehicles”; Nanyang
Technological Institute, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering;
7 October, 2008
Li et al (2008) used a microcontroller and CVT to increase the efficiency
Accelerometer and MCU
Engine
And gears to reverse the spring’s tension rather than using the other side of the spring.
CVT
Torsion Spring
Figure 2: Shows a simple CVT
Figure 1: Shows the system configuration of Li’s drive system.

10.
Literature Review
Leonard, Peter; Resciniti, Michael; Peshkess, Adi; Regenerative Braking System; ME 59;
Leonard et al (2003) used a tension spring to store energy for bicycles.

11.
Literature Review
Martinez-Gonzalez, Pablo; Diego-Ayala, Ulises; Pullen, Keith; A Simple Mechanical Transmission
System For Hybrid Vehicles Incorporating A Flywheel; City University of London; December 8, 2008
Martinez et al 2008 experimented with a mechanical flywheel regenerative model
In an urban setting, frequent braking is observed

12.
Literature Review
Panagiotidis, Michael; Delagrammatikas, George; Assanis, Dennis; Development and Use of a Regenerative Braking Model for a Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle; The University of Michigan, SAE 2000 World Congress; March 6, 2000
Used MATLAB to simulate Regenerative Braking in a vehicle
Figure 1. SIMULINK block diagram schematic of ADVISOR used in research

13. Purpose
To determine a spring powered kinetic energy regeneration system’s feasibility in real world usage.

14. Engineering Goals To create a working system that:
allows for greater energy production than energy lost through its friction
successfully is able to use energy lost from braking to forward momentum

15. Budget Vendor Order # Description Price Total price Quantity
Vex Robotics
EASYC 1
VEX Robot
Advanced Gear Kit
$19.99
Motor Kit
Servo Kit
Stock Drive Products
A 1B 2
Ratchet and Pawl
$7.10
$14.20
Total
$74.17
Available at school

16. Flowchart Vex Robot MATLAB Determine energy output of spring device
Physical Testing
Computer Simulation
Determine energy output of spring device
Determine energy output of spring device
n=50
Distance traveled / # of rotations
Energy captured
Distance traveled / # of rotations
Compare results, should not be significantly different from each other
Without Equipment (control)
With Equipment (friction + weight)
With unattached Equipment (weight)
Without Equipment (control)
With Equipment (friction + weight)
With unattached Equipment (weight)
n=50
Distance traveled / # of rotations
Distance traveled / # of rotations
Compare two results, should not be significantly different from each other
Compare spring output energy with spring energy losses
Analyze through SPSS after processing

17. Do-ability VEX robot is easy to use and adjust
No large or costly materials
Prior experience with programming and other robotics
Going to Stony Brook Engineering Camp

18. Bibliography
Hewitt, Paul G.; Conceptual Physics; New York: Addison Wesley; 2003
Li, Chenghan; Wang, Cunzhe; Leng Pelie, Woo Pak; Wei, Thia; Kinetic Energy Recovery System for Vehicles; Nanyang Technological Institute, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; 7 October, 2008
Leonard, Peter; Resciniti, Michael; Peshkess, Adi; Regenerative Braking System; ME 59;
Kilcarr, Sean; Shifting for fuel economy; Fleet Owner; February 1, 2006
Harrington, Winston; A Lighter Tread? Policy and Technology Options for Motor Vehicles; Environment; September 1, 2003; Volume 45 #9; Page 22
Martinez, James; Brake energy regeneration in F1 by 2009; Motor Authority; June 5, 2007; <
Martinez-Gonzalez, Pablo; Diego-Ayala, Ulises; Pullen, Keith; A Simple Mechanical Transmission System For Hybrid Vehicles Incorporating A Flywheel; City University of London; December 8, 2008
Ogando, Joseph; A different Kind of Hybrid; Design News, July 16, 2007; Volume 62 #10; Page 75