Course Project · ME 338 Machine Elements

Remote Control Kei Truck

Remote-controlled kei truck designed and built as a full mechanical systems project. The vehicle features a custom drivetrain, chassis, and body, engineered to meet defined performance requirements, withstand repeated testing, and compete reliably in a final race.

Role Mechanical design, CAD, manufacturing support, testing, documentation
Timeline 1 semester · ME 338 Engineering Design Project
Key Tools CAD, 3D printing, geartrain design, DC motor and gearing, RC electronics, test iteration
Remote control kei truck assembled and ready for testing
Remote control kei truck showing chassis and body layout

Overview

This project served as the ME 338 Engineering Design Project, where teams were tasked with designing and building a remote-controlled vehicle to meet a defined set of performance requirements and demonstrate compliance through testing and competition.

I approached the project as a complete mechanical system, translating requirements into design targets, building for repeatable assembly, and iterating based on test results until both performance and reliability were consistently achieved.

Requirements & Verification Plan

Early in the project, course requirements were converted into measurable engineering targets that could be validated through structured testing rather than subjective evaluation.

  • Mapped course requirements to quantitative performance targets
  • Defined repeatable test procedures to evaluate speed and control
  • Used design reviews to lock interfaces and reduce late-stage rework
Final race track layout and requirements
Final race track layout with performance requirements including three laps under 60 seconds

Mechanical Design

The primary mechanical challenge was packaging the drivetrain, steering, and electronics into a chassis that maintained alignment, allowed fast servicing, and minimized mass.

  • Designed the chassis around fixed drivetrain reference planes
  • Planned assembly so major components could be removed independently
  • Used CAD to manage tolerances, clearances, and fastener access before fabrication

Drivetrain & Controls

Vehicle performance was driven largely by drivetrain decisions, particularly gearing and alignment under load.

  • Selected gear ratios to balance torque and top speed for the race course
  • Designed mounts to maintain gear mesh through vibration and impacts
  • Routed wiring and electronics to minimize failures during operation

Testing & Race Performance

The truck was validated through repeated testing cycles, with early failures used to guide targeted design improvements ahead of the final race.

  • Ran repeated tests to confirm performance and durability
  • Resolved test failures through focused design changes
  • Vehicle completed testing and final race without major issues

Problems Solved & What I Learned

  • Translating requirements into testable engineering targets
  • Managing mechanical interfaces to preserve alignment through iterations
  • Recognizing how drivetrain packaging decisions affect long-term reliability
  • Using structured testing to drive design changes
  • Documenting design decisions so the system can be rebuilt by others

Impact

This project represented a complete mechanical design cycle from requirements through competition. The final vehicle met course objectives, performed reliably in testing and racing, and was supported by a full documentation package that captured the engineering decisions and validation process end to end.