Division of Product and Production Development, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology (LTU)

Postal address: Avdelningen för produkt- och produktionsutveckling, Institutionen för Teknikvetenskap och matematik, Luleå tekniska universitet, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Visiting address: Universitetsområdet, Porsön, Luleå
Web page: http://www.ltu.se/org/tvm/Avdelningar/Produkt-och-produktionsutveckling

Contact person: Associate Professor Peter Jeppsson, phone: +46 (0)920 492275

The Division runs a course entitled SIRIUS-Creative Product Development. SIRIUS is the last course within the program for mechanical engineering for those who read the machine construction, but is also optional for students with other approaches and programs. Here the two research topic core subjects of product and production development –  Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Systems Engineering – are merged. Students carry out product development projects on behalf of industrial enterprises. In addition to providing students with a unique way of learning, the course has over the years resulted in patents and a range of solutions that are implemented in commercial products today.
More information about SIRIUS.

During 2011, SIRIUS students worked on an exciting India related project, to create an environmentally friendly Auto Rickshaw. The idea of this project is that students will develop a vehicle platform and powertrain of the future autorickshaw as an environmentally friendly alternative to today's Indian rickshaws. . During the first phase the company participated as a contact partner, but in a later stage it will possibly sponsor the project by producing a press hardening tool for prototype manufacturing of the vehicle platform. 

Six LTU students worked on the auto rickshaw project during 2011, led by Peter Jeppsson. The project resulted in a model of a three-wheeled hybrid auto rickshaw for the Indian market, which has received the Sami-sounding name of SANJAS (”snow and ice-free”) – see photo. The Auto Rickshaw project was carried out in close collaboration with the Indian company TVS Motors (based in Bangalore), and the company Gestamp HardTech (with production site in Luleå).
The intention was to develop a vehicle that can handle both safety and environmental requirements and that can be mass produced for the Indian market. There is a great need for it among other things due to the chaotic traffic situation in the country which can lead to high carbon emissions.
The students have developed a vehicle platform for a Hybrid Auto Rickshaw with room for a driver and four passengers. That is two more passengers than in a conventional rickshaw. Students mainly electric powered rickshaw has also an internal combustion engine that charges the batteries for electric drive. The body is self-supporting with merged components through the whole, which gives it strength and enhanced security.
Read more about the Auto Rickshaw project at LTU.
See also a final report on the project.

The project idea has its origin in the automotive testing industry in the northern part of Sweden where the organization CASTT (Centre for Automotive Systems Technologies and Testing) are engaged in development of the automotive vehicle testing industry in Älvsbyn and Arjeplog. One field of development in collaboration with Indian motor companies is to do vehicle testing in Sweden. Therefore, this project has a close relationship with Indian motor companies, in particular the auto-rickshaw manufacturer TVS Motors, based in Bangalore.
Peter Jeppsson, who is the Director for CASTT, is involved in the collaboration with Indian companies since 2010. Other LTU researchers participating are Ulf Bodin and Jan van Deventer, both based at the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering.
Mr. S R Venkatesan at Invest Sweden, the Swedish government’s Official Investment Promotion Agency (with an office at the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi), has also played a key role in establishing contacts between LTU and all the major Indian automotive companies. The research collaboration focuses on the development of hybrid cars that should be able to stand also a cold climate like in north Sweden. In wintertime several European car companies have already for many years tested their cars under cold conditions up there (see photo).