DESIGN FOR TRANSPORT
From pollution-fighting bicycles to rail track cleaning technology, The Imagination Factory is committed to bringing to life truly innovative ideas that will contribute to decarbonising our transportation systems over time whilst also continuing to deliver improved user experience.
Our Director team each bring over 20 years of experience in industrial design and engineering, delivering big-budget projects, at senior levels, both in-house and with agencies. This is coupled with first-hand insights into developing a commercial product business for the rail industry - PlasmaTrack.
Over five years, The Imagination Factory Design for transport team has developed, built and proved a ground-breaking application of plasma technology for cleaning train tracks to give train drivers summer braking conditions all year round. In 2020 the technology was launched asPlasmaTrack, an independent business that is currently forging ahead with the development and commercialisation of a suite of rail products.
Working closely with specialists including British Steel, The National Physics Laboratory, National Rail and the RSSB, the solution was proven to effectively remove contaminants such as leaf debris at high speed without damaging the railhead. You can find out more here.
GoRolloe is an idea dreamt up by the founder, Kristen Tapping. It is a cleverly designed air filter that uses the motion and energy from a moving wheel to draw air through it. As most pollution is within 2 metres of the ground, a bike wheel is in the ideal position. it adds very little resistance for the cyclist, so the results are possible with very little additional effort.
Fitting directly onto a bike wheel, the device filters through air on the go. With each rotation of the wheel, polluted air passes through a set of filters and is cleaned of particulate matter before expelling it back into the environment.
RExMoto is a modular motorcycle that attaches to an electric aircraft, providing additional flying time and a mode of transport to and from the airfield. The Range Extender consists of a 50kW electrical generator that feeds power to an electric aircraft, providing an added 2-3 hours extra flight time. It uses a Fluid Transfer Unit (or ‘jet pipe’) to efficiently burn aviation fuel to generate electricity.
The engine, generator, chassis and drive structure have all been specially designed to enable an optimum aerodynamic form, with the whole unit weighing less than 125kg. Retractable wheels used to save battery whilst taxiing, ensure that RExMoto can fit conveniently beneath the aircraft’s fuselage or under a wing whilst minimising drag in flight mode.
CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE?
We provide the benefit of many years working as lead consultants and in-house experts within the worlds of industrial design and design engineering. Our teams partner with yours to demystify the front end of innovation for joined-up strategy, smoother development and faster delivery.
If you would like to talk to us about a design or engineering problem that needs solving, a solution that needs a strategy or an idea that needs turning into a reality, drop us a line.