Distributed Collaborative Product Development Project

July 27, 2005

ALLI - Amphibious Gator

Status: In Progress

Mission:

To modify a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle so that it can be used for amphibious applications.
Its name is derived simply from a play on words: "ALLI-Gator!" In addition to normal functionality
on land, an amphibious vehicle is one that has the ability to function similarly to a boat in a body
of water: it can float, move, and steer. Distributed Collaborative Product Development undergraduate
teams have performed in-depth analysis on Gators to determine how one will react in a body of water,
and are determining solutions for the three main areas of interest for an amphibious vehicle: floatation,
movement, and steering. The first area, floatation, is solved by simply forming a water-proof hull around
the Gator. It is also important for the teams to reduce the weight of the Gator to maximize the buoyant
force from water displacement available to the design. The next area of interest, movement, is solved with
use of Mudlite tires that have deep grooves in their tread. Spinning action of these wheels serves to propel
the Gator in a body of water. The final area of interest for an amphibious Gator, steering, can be solved by
the addition of a front-wheel drive system. This step is the most intricate addition to a Gator design, and
requires a great deal of research to find a reliable front-wheel drive system. These three areas of the design
are essential to a functional amphibious Gator, and will serve to keep ALLI's head above water and moving
in the proper direction.