With the viral success of a competitive product, I was tasked with designing a new and improved 6V bumper car that aligned with Radio Flyer’s brand.
Using an existing Radio Flyer product, I added my own modular Arduino-based electronic drive system to test a variety of features, functions, and sensors. After testing multiple options with children, the “bump detection” feature stood out as the hero.
To have the car stop safely and make a sound when it bumps into an object, I tested a variety of electromechanical and analog sensors.
Finding that existing sensors either couldn’t sense bumps all around the car or lacked the proper sensitivity to prevent false positives, I used inspiration from a toy in a different category to invent a patented 360 degree bump sensor.
Once proving the concepts feasibility and viability, I led the electromechanical development and debug through production.
