Large-scale 3D printing and additive solutions leader BigRep unveiled the fully 3D printed, autonomous electric pod car LOCI at Formnext on Tuesday. The groundbreaking design prototype is an exciting showcase for a whole range of industrial applications in Additive Manufacturing today – from rapid prototyping and design to functional end-use transportation created by large-format 3D printers with engineering-grade materials.
“We are excited to be once again leading the way in utilizing the full potential of AM applications across industries by presenting the LOCI prototype and other industrial prototypes with, Bosch Rexroth, AIRBUS and Dassault Systèmes,” said BigRep Managing Director Martin Back. “With our large-format 3D printers and new engineering-grade materials, developed together with BASF, we are expanding our additive systems’ capabilities to enable the advanced applications and efficient workflows that create added value for businesses. Taken together, our AM solutions are truly empowering industrial production in aerospace, automotive, rail and many other industries.”
Taking center stage at formnext, the LOCI prototype is a fully 3D printed autonomous electric podcar, specifically designed as a “last mile transportation solution” in urban environments: airport and train station departures, daily work commutes, campus transport, and local deliveries. LOCI has been envisioned and designed by NOWLAB, the innovation consultancy at BigRep.
“LOCI is more than a vehicle, it’s the evolution of personalized mobility,” said NOWLAB co-founder and BigRep CIO Daniel Buening. “LOCI is an affordable solution for urban transportation, harnessing the agility of AM while also demonstrating the cost-efficient advantages of 3D printing for sustainable AM such as manufacturing personalized products on-site and on-demand.”
Thanks to the flexibility of Additive Manufacturing, unique prototypes or small batches of LOCI can be locally produced on demand without added costs, supplier dependence or long lead times. This eliminates the need for large warehouses and remote production facilities while simplifying logistics and reducing transport. Production volumes can be easily upscaled with a fleet of BigRep printers.
Developed using parametric modeling, LOCI utilises the full potential of AM. The podcar’s design can be easily customized for a given location or application; adjusting handling purpose, materials, structural properties, special tires for different terrains, custom branding, and integrated solar power. The Formnext showcase captures three different LOCI iterations: The Berlin LOCI model presented is a single-person campus commuter with a sleek design, touch screen media display, surround sound audio, wireless phone/device charging, integrated LED lighting, TPU airless tires, and embedded BigRep Part DNA technology. The San Francisco LOCI is a render concept version for urban commuting. Its narrow body can maneuver in traffic, a single right-side door lifts up to cover exiting passengers from rain, and it has two passenger seats. Finally, the Dubai LOCI is a render concept version for airport transportation with a high-end luxury feel, solar panels, space for luggage, and rugged tires for desert weather.
LOCI’s BigRep Part DNATM technology is based on NFC chips embedded into the 3D printed parts. This chip can be scanned using a mobile device to identify the part. In the future, it can be additionally integrated with sensors to monitor part status and provide maintenance or replacement information – simply scan the part and print a replacement.
Built with just 14 unique parts, LOCI measures 85cm x 146cm x 285cm, with the largest part measuring 1000 x 600 x 700 mm. All parts were printed with a BigRep PRO, BigRep Studio G2, or BigRep ONE additive system. The body was printed with BigRep’s PRO HT material, for the airless tires designers opted for TPU, the bumpers were created with PLX, and beams and joints with PA6/66.
BigRep is also presenting a set of fully 3D-printed prototypes for industrial applications, developed by NOWLAB in cooperation with its industry partners and presenting cost- and time-efficient innovations for Industry 4.0 manufacturing. These include the NEXT AGV (autonomous guided vehicle), developed with Bosch Rexroth, the AIRBUS Investment Shipping Case, a fully 3D-printed solution for delicate equipment transportation, and the Retro Seat, an original airline seat frame that has been refurbished with AM at NOWLAB and developed in collaboration with Dassault Systèmes.
The company is also continuing to expand its filament offerings, by introducing and supporting four engineering-grade materials – PLX, PET-CF, PA6/66 and BVOH. These materials are specially designed to take full advantage of the company’s large-format 3D printers.
