Final report on mobile vendors

Design a foldable vending cart for mobile vendors
SRISTI Summer School 2015
Parth Patel, IET, Ahmedabad University, parth.patel@iet.ahduni.edu.in
Pranjal Srivastava, Thapar University, Patiala, pranjal.srivastava.id@gmail.com

Tableof Contents
Abstract:.......................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction: ................................................................................................................................... 3
Methodology:.................................................................................................................................. 3
Map of places visited in Ahmedabad:............................................................................................. 4
Existing cart used by vendors: ........................................................................................................ 5
Problems identified:........................................................................................................................ 6
Approach:........................................................................................................................................ 8
Design analysis:............................................................................................................................... 9
Cross- beam design..................................................................................................................... 9
Cross- rectangular frames........................................................................................................... 9
Simple bar design........................................................................................................................ 9
Characteristics of all components of prototype: .......................................................................... 10
Material:........................................................................................................................................ 10
Table of components of prototype:.............................................................................................. 11
Prototyping: .................................................................................................................................. 12
Feedback from mentors:............................................................................................................... 13
Feedback from users:.................................................................................................................... 16
Future plans: ................................................................................................................................. 16
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Legend.............................................................................................................................. 4
Figure 2: Existing cart...................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 3: Kiran bhai who sells coconut ........................................................................................... 6
Figure 4: Divya ben who sells Fruits................................................................................................ 7
Figure 5: Final design sketch......................................................................................................... 12
Figure 6: Sketch model with dimensions...................................................................................... 12
Figure 7: Prototype without wooden platform. ........................................................................... 14
Figure 8: Prototype with wooden platform.................................................................................. 14
Figure 9: Prototype in folded state ............................................................................................... 15

Abstract:
Keeping in mind the current scenario of the space crunch that is prevalent in all the major cities
of India, especially the metropolitans; there is a serious need of urban equity to be
implemented for the mutual harmony of all the stakeholders in the current system. In the daily
life of a common vendor, the cart (lari) is an indispensible part of his/her life. It is used for
showcasing the goods of a vendor and as a storage place, sometimes doubling up as a place for
resting/sleeping. The problems identified in the current cart are: the absence of a proper
handle design to hold the cart for maneuvering; absence of any braking system or steering
mechanism; the proper storage of carts when not in use, which is the problem we decided to
work upon.
Introduction:
“Street vendors form a very important segment of the unauthorized sector in the country. It is
estimated that in several cities street vendors count for about 2 per cent of the population.
Women constitute a large segment of these street vendors in almost every city. Street vending
is not only a source of self-employment to the poor in cities and towns but also a means to
provide ‘affordable’ as well as ‘convenient’ services to majority of the urban population”.
(MHUPA 2009: 1) This quotation in the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2009,
describes the economic context of street trade in Indian cities, indicating their important role in
the urban economies.
Methodology:
This study was carried out over a span of three weeks. The first round included going to
different places where the vendor population identifying locales for carrying out field work and
canvassing structured questionnaire that got modified while undertaking surveys and case
studies of some markets. The second round included understanding of the links of the vendors
with other stakeholders of the community and studying the daily activities of the mobile
vendors carefully.

Map of placesvisitedin Ahmedabad:
Figure 1: Legend
2. Ahmedabaduniversity3. Vastrapur 4. IIMA Market 6. Delhi Darwaja 8. Jamalpur
 Natural Markets
This map shows the places that were visited during the immersion phase to interact with the
vendors and record the observations

Existing cartusedbyvendors:
Figure 2: Existing cart

Problemsidentified:
1. Muscular strain
The mobile vendors begin their routine early in the morning and finish their business late in the
evening. Their daily work involves a major part of walking around their usual market route
along with their lari (cart), shouting about and selling their goods throughout the day. They
usually carry around 200 - 250 kg. on their cart, although which decreases as the day
progresses. The combination of long distance of walking and the heavy load on the cart is quite
cumbersome for these vendors.
2. No mechanism for handling
The carts that exist in and around Ahmedabad, have a standard design which excludes any
mechanism for holding and maneuvering the cart. The vendors have to place their hands on the
edge of the boundary of the wooden platform or to grip the two cylindrical wooden protrusions
for this purpose. This causes extreme strain on the palm of the hands and sometimes causes
irritation or pain.
Moreover, the absence of any sort of braking and steering mechanism on the cart caused a
huge muscular effort to stop or slow the cart, when in momentum, and to steer the cart
efficiently during turning.
Figure 3: Kiran bhai who sells coconut

3. Shelter from severe weather conditions
It was observed that between vendors who have fixed station throughout the day and those
who were mobile, the vendors with fixed stations always had some type of shelter structure to
shield themselves from direct sunlight and rain. On the other hand, the mobile vendors mostly
set up such a structure only when they were stationary at some place for a fixed period of time,
and not when they were mobile.
Figure 4: Divya ben who sells Fruits
4. Storage and parking of cart
The cart is useful for the vendors during the day, but is a bane to them when their daily
business is over. The following are the traits of this effect:
 to either park the cart in a lodging and pay rent
 to leave the cart on the side of the road, which is then in probable danger of
being impounded by the policemen, for which they have to pay a fine to free the
cart
 to take the cart to their homes where it causes a decrement in the already
minimal space

The problems that we decided to work on were:
 Storage and parking of cart
 No mechanism for handling
Approach:
The brainstorming sessions on these problems resulted in three prototype designs of which,
each was individually analyzed, the inputs from various mentors incorporated and the ideas re-
iterated. In all three prototype designs, the wooden platform on which the goods rest is made
detachable, but re- fixable by a locking mechanism. The initial two prototypes which are
explained in brief below are in reference of the frame of the cart only.

Designanalysis:
Cross- beam design
The rectangular frame has two rods along the length of the sides of the cart which are fixed at
one end and are free to move from the other end, but held by a hook. When the cart is to be
used for vending purpose, the rods are unhooked and put in a cross position on opposite
corners and fixed there by a lock mechanism. The cross beam structure provides rigidity and
added stability to the whole frame. But when the cart is to be folded, the cross members are
brought to their original position and the frame is folded.
Cross- rectangular frames
This design draws its analogy from the folding stretchers, chairs and tables that we see in our
everyday lives. Here, two rectangular frames are aligned in such a fashion so that they are
joined at two points and which facilitates rotary motion of certain degrees to enable folding.
Simple bar design
The vending cart has a rectangular frame to reinforce the load capability of the cart. Hinges are
fitted on the corners and on the sides of the frame of the cart to enable folding. The hinges
need to be strong enough to sustain the pressure of the load and not get bent or deformed.
The material to be used is fixed as mild steel for the frame due to its strength. The detachable
wooden platform needs to be locked in such a fashion so as to bear the impulse when the cart
is suddenly pulled/pushed to stop/start the cart or for sudden turning and extreme
maneuvering. The hinges to be fitted in the corners need to be such that they do not move
beyond a right angle for the corners and not move beyond a straight angle for the side. The side
frame that encases the wheels has to be in the shape of an elongated 'U', over other options
i.e. rectangular block or a trapezium to maximize equivalent load distribution over the entire
frame to ensure stability.
Why not the cross- beam design?
The cross beams have different pressure points on its resting points. Moreover, the beams are
a little longer than the length of the cart and can be dangerous in some cases.
Why not the rectangular frame design?
In this design, the entire load falls on the two points where the frames are joined together. This
reduces the equal load distribution system and may cause deformation.

Characteristics of all components of prototype:
Material:
Mild steel is used for constructing the components of the cart due to its strength and load
bearing capacity. The tires and rim are similar to those which are used in the standard carts in
existence.

Table of components of prototype:
Reference number
of component
Quantity of
the component
Name of
component
Function
of component
1 2 Handle
To facilitate holding and
maneuvering of cart
2 4 Tire tube To enable efficient rolling
3 4 U- frame
To stabilize the frame and
maximize load distribution
4 4 Cylindrical fixture To hold the wooden platform
5 2 Straight angle hinge
To enable bending
uni-directionally
6 4 Rim To support the wheel
7 2 Prismatic beam (length)
Increased rigidity and load
capacity
8 2
Prismatic beam (width)
with hinge at ends and in
the middle
To facilitate bending and added
support
9 1 Lock
To hold the frame in position in
folded state
10 4 U- frame support To hold the U- frame
11 1 Inter- beam hinged strip To stabilize the beams
12 1 Hinged prismatic bar To stabilize the U- frame

Prototyping:
Figure 5: Final design sketch
Figure 6: Sketch model with dimensions

Feedbackfrommentors:
 Professor Anil K. Gupta :
Design a cart by focusing on one aspect at a time. Review existing designs exhaustively
and iterate on various ideas. Emphasize on user aspects and their feedback.
 Professor P V M Rao:
Can work on pedal operated cart as it is easier to pull and push, or automated carts like
battery operated carts. Give the prototype to the users for a few days.
" Test and modify.”
 Javed Bhai (NIF) :
See the existing NIF cart and its principles. Think of a cart with hand- brakes.
 Nitin Maurya
Are the current carts cheap to build, purchase and own? Why have people stuck to this
design of vending cart? Explore the existing systemthoroughly before venturing for new
solutions.
 Kate Bissett Johnson
Find a clear statement of your design and create your priorities for the project. Focus on
what is the main problem you are trying to solve?
 MP Ranjan
Observe the whole activity of the vendors throughout the day and try to find patterns in
them. Explore the possibility of pedal powered carts. Try and lookat the prototype froma
businessmodelpointof view.Itisuseful toanalyze negativefeedbackatearlystage torefine
the prototype.
 MK Mahala
Use lock mechanism when the cart is folded so it doesn't unfold. Attach a diagonal beam
to maintain stability of upper frame.
 Abhinav (NIF)
Study simpler alternatives first and then ideate progressively.

Figure 7: Prototype without wooden platform.
Figure 8: Prototype with wooden platform

Figure 9: Prototype in folded state

Feedbackfromusers:
Negative:
 It takes time and effort to detach the tabletop and fold the frame and similarly for
attaching and unfolding. If the procedure can be made such as to reduce effort, it would
be beneficial.
 We cannot keep our goods on the cart once it is folded. If there can be a mechanism on
the cart so that we can keep goods on it, in the cart's folded state, it would be better.
Positive:
 It will be very beneficial to them and will save a lot of space in and around their home.
Such a design is very thoughtful and will help them in many ways.
 Due to its compact size, it can be stored in small spaces and will save parking/ storage
rent.
Futureplans:
We intend to take this project forward and implement useful modifications with the help of the
critical feedback, both from the users and the mentors, to solve remaining issues of mobile
vendors.
The issues that we are trying to address next are:
 absence of a braking mechanism
 absence of a permanent shelter structure on the cart
 reducing the cost of the prototype and optimizing components

Final report on mobile vendors

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