Ming Gui Xiao, Abel Jacobs, Brandon Joseph, Mohammed Yacoub
City College of New York
ENGL 21007
Professor Crystal Rodwell
April 25, 2023
Camper Capsule Innovation Document
- Introduction
- Camper Capsule Introduction
- Background
- Pricing
- Proposed Program
- Internal Components
- Foldable Mattress
- Mattress Holders
- Plastic Bin
- Battery
- Battery Case
- Magnetic Dormlight
- Doors and Windows
- External Components
- Foldable Steel Jack
- Trailer Coupler
- Wheel and Axle Set
- Solar Panel
- Cedar Wooden Exterior
- Polycarbonate Sheets
- L-Brackets
- Innovation Process
- Materials
- Materials That Produce the Camper Capsule
- Cost of Materials
- Overall Summary
- Labor Cost
- Types of Workers
- Cost For Labor
- Overall Summary
- Conclusion
- Reasons To Invest In The Camper Capsule
- What Makes The Camper Capsule Efficient
- Possible Futures With the Camper Capsule
- Appendices
- Safety and Testing Procedures
- Policies
- Task Schedule
Introduction:
Housing has been done in the same method generation to generation, as you place your structure in a fixed location. While this method obviously has its advantages, it doesn’t remove the disadvantages that come with it. These may include: the high expenses for maintaining this home, the lack of mobility leading you to stay in a fixed position for a prolonged period of your life, and the high cost of materials in order to produce such structures. The Camper Capsule goal is to make the disadvantages of normal housing into its leading selling factor. This helps utilize the left out market for people seeking similar accommodation. In modern times Mobile Housing is a very common sight to see, as they have made the monumental task of running a whole home into a compressed and portable format. This provided many people to find a source of shelter and live in comfortable spaces with ample amenities. With this in mind, the Camper Capsule is an idea that can take the best functions from a mobile home and combine it with the minimalist design of Japanese sleep capsules. These two products are vastly different but the Camper Capsule produces an environment friendly, consumer friendly, and cost effective method for those looking to travel on their own or want a simple solution for sleeping on the go.
Mobile homes are a very common sight in modern times. They have made the monumental task of running a whole home into a smaller and portable format. This has allowed many people to find a source of shelter and live in comfortable spaces with ample amenities. With this in mind, the Camper Capsule is an idea that can take the best functions from a mobile home and combine it with the minimalist design of Japanese sleep capsules. These two products are vastly different but the Camper Capsule produces an environment friendly, consumer friendly, and cost effective method for those looking to travel on their own or want a simple solution for sleeping on the go.
Background
A unique kind of straightforward and inexpensive lodging is a capsule hotel, and this is commonly referred to as a pod hotel. Each visitor has their own capsule, which is effectively a bed-sized pod that can be closed with a door or a curtain (the door won’t lock, per Japanese legislation). These capsules are double-stacked and organized in rows. Your capsule will likely contain an air conditioner and electricity outlets for charging your electronics, but this is not a given. Items are often kept in a hotel-provided locker. In Osaka, Japan, the first capsule hotel debuted in 1979. They are now widespread throughout Japan and abroad. These capsules introduce a very minimalist idea of living in a very cheap and mostly bare pod which allows for the user to sleep and store some personal belongings. This idea stuck out to us as we wanted to integrate a simple way of resting and taking care of typical needs without cluttering or using large energy sources.
A mobile home is a prefabricated building that is constructed in a factory on a permanently attached chassis and then is either towed or trailered to its destination. They are frequently left continuously or semi-permanently in one spot, either as permanent residences or for temporary or holiday lodging, but they can be moved and may occasionally be ordered to move for legal reasons. Travel trailers and mobile homes both have similar historical roots, but today’s uses for them are radically different, with travel trailers serving largely as temporary or holiday residences. Mobile homes have sturdy trailer frames, axles, wheels, and tow-hitches hidden below the decorative work installed during construction to cover the base. These homes have always promoted the addition of added amenities such as bathrooms and separated rooms to create a homely experience in a smaller space. The inspiration of making a homely environment was another key factor in the innovation of this product. The team was able to put together a product that not only factors in convenience, but also a welcoming feel.
Pricing
The price of this Camper Capsule is $10,000 when looking at combined prices of items used and any work/labor costs factored into the process of building this item. After building a few test capsules and finalizing design and capability by the use of gofundme, sponsorships, and small investors, we would bring this idea to a larger company that delves into trailer homes or housing in general. From there we could enter the price market as a $10,000 capsule which is very affordable compared to many other trailer homes which can cost upwards of $15,000 for the smallest of homes. This option is very easy and accessible to use for newer consumers. This could be sold to customers for around $10,000 per unit as a full buy option or monthly installment plan. This allows for profit of $5,652 and for the company to test the product’s success rate. This solves housing issues for those who move often and have constant issues with housing. It is a cheaper option than trailer homes and a fully furnished house, an apartment that can be transported quickly and easily with a vehicle’s help. With the use of the included battery, it also provides environment safe housing with a battery which is supplemented by a solar panel on the roof of the Camper Capsule. There is also a stationary model which costs $9,000 which subtracts costs for the wheels and foldable stands.
Technical Description:
- Interior Components
Foldable Mattress
The Foldable mattress is an essential part of this innovation as it is the main use for the entire CC (Camper Capsule). This mattress is a standard twin sized mattress (38” x 75“), from the Mattress Gallery at P.C. Richard & Son, which includes the luxurious feel of a soft bed with the cheaper pricing than higher end and expensive mattresses; these mattresses can also be delivered easily for easy construction. The mattress also folds vertically.
Mattress Holders
The Mattress Holders is the bed frame that holds the mattress and the user sleeping on it. The Mattress Holders are two rectangular wooden planks that are 5ft long and are installed on the sides of the interior of the Camper Capsule. The installation of the mattress holders is 3 feet high from the floor of the Camper Capsule.
Plastic Bin
With the mattress holders arranged on the side of the Camper Capsule and the mattress being able to fold vertically, a plastic bin will be placed beneath the mattress holders to serve as a Storage Compartment of the Camper Caple. The Plastic Bin is 5 feet long and 2 feet tall.
Battery (with solar panel)
The largest innovative aspect of the CC possibly comes in its gasoline free functionality. This CC is supported with a full battery which allows for charging of smaller devices like smartphones, tablets, and even TV’s. This battery has 538Wh Capacity & 600W Output which makes it more than optimal for long trips and extensive use. This battery is also able to power appliances such as small cookers, air fryers, or cooking electronics not typically used in smaller capsules. The best part about this battery is the charging capability. It supports USB, AC adapters, and USB-C ports. The battery itself can be plugged in for an hour to charge up to 95% or be charged on the go using the solar panels which are fitted atop the capsule.
Battery Case
To protect the battery from being damaged while the Camper Capsule is moving, the battery will be put in a case to put it in a fixed position. The Battery Case is a wooden box that is 2 feet long, 2 feet 2 wide, and 1 feet tall; the top of the case is exposed in order to allow a cable that connects the battery to the outlet of the solar panel. There will be a rectangular hole on the front of the box in order to expose the battery’s usb, and power outlets in case one might need to charge an appliance.
Magnetic Dorm Light
Lighting is one of the smaller and admittedly lesser condensed portions of the CC. In this case, the lighting would be a Dorm Light bought from Walmart that can magnetically stick to the steel plate on the capsule’s ceiling, and is rechargeable using the fitted battery. This light would be purchased and fitted into the home and could be moved around depending on the consumer’s preference and design choices. One might need to move the Magnetic Dorm Light from the steel ceiling when they fold the mattress to access the storage compartments.
Door & Window
Another customizable aspect of the CC comes through the choice of doors and windows, by allowing for customers to choose, they get to experiment with looks and can choose a style that fits them and their new CC the most. Not only are these cheap things to remove, but also very easy to buy online. The door and window that will be used was bought from Lowe’s Home Improvement. Doors can be shipped incredibly easily and fitted to the wooden interior which allows for safety and security from other people and weather based issues
- External Components
Foldable Steel Jack
While the capsule gets disconnected from the vehicle, it may be slanted due to the uneven balance created by the axle set, to create balance There is a foldable steel jack located near the coupler at the bottom of the Camper Capsule and is 2 feet tall and support a maximum weight of 1400 lbs. The jack is initially folded horizontally while the capsule is being transported and will flip vertically and extend to the ground when activated to balance the capsule.
Trailer Coupler
In order for the capsule to be moved by cars, there is a steel Trailer coupler located on the front of the capsule which will latch on the back end of the user’s vehicle in order for the Capsule to be transported
Wheel and Axle Set
This 2 wheel set will be installed on the back of the Capsule to provide mobility during camping trips. The axel that holds the wheels together has a length of 6 feet and the tire iron has a radius of 2 feet. The set comes with tires so that users don’t have to buy their own for the Capsule
Solar Panel
While taking the Camper Capsule on sunny road trips, the user can charge the battery using a cable that links the battery to the solar panel. The Solar Panel lies on the rear side of the roof of the Camper Capsule and is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. The Solar Panel is positioned where its outlet is facing a small hole on the roof in order to be connected via a cable plug that charges the battery.
Cedar Exterior
The Cedar Exterior is the roof, floor and walls that shield the user and internal components of the capsule( electronics, storage, mattress) from the outside elements. The exterior of the capsule has a box-like appearance that spans 7 ft long, 5ft wide, and 7 ft tall in order to provide moving space for the user inside. The exterior is made from Red Cedar Wood Boards in order to make the Camper Capsule water and rot resistant. Each Cedar Board of the exteriors has a unique pattern of screw holes in order to bind other components to the exterior using 2 ½ in Philips Head screws.
Cedar Exterior Side Boards
The sides of the Cedar Exterior are 7ft feet long and 7ft tall. At the center of each side board, is a rectangular hole that is 4 feet long and 2ft tall in order to install a polycarbonate window pane.
There are 6 screw holes (3 on the top and 3 on the bottom) on each side board to allow for the installation of polycarbonate sheets- the bottom three screw holes also align with the screw holes of the mattress holders
There are two screw holes at the back end of each sideboard in order to install a hinge that allows the Camper Capsule Door to function
Cedar Exterior Front Board
The Front Board of the Cedar Exterior is 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. There are on each corner in order to install a polycarbonate sheet and provide structural strength between the front and side boards
Cedar Exterior Roof Board
The Roof Board of the exterior is 7 feet long and 5 feet wide. One of the back corners of the Roof Board has a 3 in square hole that allows the battery cable to connect to the solar panel
The Roof Board has 4 screw holes on each corner in order to bind the roof board with the polycarbonate sheeting along with the front and side boards.
There are 3 screw holes at the center of the Roof that bind it with the internal steel sheet.
There are 4 screw holes to attach the solar panel to the roof board
Cedar Exterior Floor Board
The Cedar Exterior Floorboard is 8 feet long and 5 feet wide. There are 2 holes on top the Floor Board to fit a ball coupler for the vehicle to mount the capsule
There are holes on the bottom of the Floorboard to install a Foldable Steel Jack, Polycarbonate sheets and Axle slots for the Wheel and Axle set.
Cedar Door Frame
There are 2 shelf like doors placed on the rear of the Camper Capsule for the user to enter in. Each door is 7 feet tall and 2 ½ feet wide. There is a rectangular hole in each door that is 4 feet tall and 1/ ½ feet wide to install a polycarbonate window pane.
The sides of each frame has 2 screw holes to attach a hinge in order to make the doors functional
Cedar Exterior L Brackets
There will be 4 L brackets that will be placed on the corners of the rear side of the Capsule in order to strengthen the connection of Roof, Sides, and Floor. Each L bracket has 3 screw holes
Polycarbonate Sheets
The Polycarbonate sheets are clear sheets of hard plastic that are installed onto the Cedar Exterior to protect it from dents, scratches and rain. There are 6 sheets that cover each face of the box with holes to fit a 2 1/12 in Phillips Head screws.
Side Polycarbonate Sheets
There are 2 Polycarbonate sheets that are 7 feet long and 7 feet tall and are installed on the Sides of the Camper Capsule.
The Side Polycarbonate Sheets have 6 holes ( 3 on the top and 3 on the bottom) and a rectangular cut and the rear end of the sheet for a hinge to make contact with the Cedar Exterior Side Board
Front Polycarbonate Sheet
The Front Polycarbonate Sheet is installed on the Front of the Camper Capsule and is 5 ft wide and 7 feet tall
There are 4 holes on each corner of the Front Polycarbonate sheet and a rectangular hole at the bottom of the sheet to account for the installation of the trailer coupler on the Cedar Exterior Frontboard
Polycarbonate Roof Sheet
The Polycarbonate Roof Sheet is 7 feet long and 5 feet wide and is installed on the roof of the Camper Capsule
There are 4 holes on the corners of the Roof Sheet to install the sheet on to the roof
There are 3 holes on the center of the Roof Sheet to connect with the steel ceiling
There are 4 holes near the center of the Roof to connect with the screwing holes of the solar panel
Polycarbonate Bottom Sheet
The Polycarbonate bottom sheet is 7 feet long and 5 feet wide and is installed on the bottom of the Camper Capsule
There are 4 holes on each corner of the Bottom Sheet in order to be mounted outside on Cedar Exterior Floorboard
There are 4 holes on the center of the of the Bottom Sheet to account for the installation of the Foldable Steel Jack onto the bottom of the Camper Capsule
Polycarbonate Door Sheet
There are 2 Polycarbonate Door Sheets that are installed on the Doorframe of the Camper Capsule
There are 4 holes on the corner of each Door Sheet to be mounted onto the door frame
There is a rectangular hole on each Door Sheet that is aligned to the rectangular cut of the Polycarbonate Side Sheets
Innovation Process
- Chart for Materials used
| Material (Outer Cover) | Cost ($) | Summary |
| Cedar Wooden Boards | $175 | Base material for the structure of Camper Capsule |
| Polycarbonate Sheets | $35 | Plastic sheets to protect the maple cover and solar panel from elements |
| Wheel + Axle Set | $700 | 2 Wheel Axle on the back of the Camper Capsule for transportation on the road |
| Trailer Coupler | $15 | Used to attach the Camper Capsule to the hook at the end of a vehicle for transportation |
| Foldable Steel Jack | $51 | Provides balance to the Camper Capsule when coupler is detached from the vehicle |
| Materials (Inner Workings) | Cost ($) | Summary |
| Mattress | $140 | The main use of the Camper Capsule, allowing people to take a nap or relax. |
| Magnetic Dorm Light | $11 | A magnetic LED light that can stick to the steel layer of the Camper Capsule, while also rechargeable. |
| Door + Window | $450 | Customizable parts of the Camper Capsule that the customers can choose on their own. |
| Storage Compartments | $210 | Spaces to store items in an organized manner |
| Battery | $760 | Power source for the lighting. Can be powered by a solar panel or using Ac charger. Features multiple outlets to power various devices. |
| Screws(per 50) 1,000 ct | $100 | Used to screw pieces together and hold it in place |
| Total | $2,636 |
- Chart for Labor
| Type of Labor | Cost ($) | Summary |
| Assembly | $550 | Assembles components of Camper Capsule into final product |
| Cutter | $640 | Cuts materials such as wood and plastic for outer layer |
| Delivery | $500 | Transports and ships the product to warehouses where they will be sold |
| Total | $1,690 |
Conclusion:
While the traditional methods of dorming in the outdoors using a tent are reliable, these structures are vulnerable to elements and the whole trip can be jeopardized if the shelter is damaged. There are mobile homes such as campers that provide the camping experience with a stronger structure, but purchasing one can be costly and spending its tires and fuel source further drains someone’s wallet for just a few days of camping. The perfect shelter for a camping experience is one that provides fortitude and utility of a camper while also being simpler and cheaper to use as a tent and the Camper Capsule can fulfill the criteria.
While it appears very compact, it provides some core features that a camper might possess such as electricity, a bed, storage and fortitude; at a more affordable price due to its minimalistic design. The power source is another reason for what makes it affordable as the Camper Capsule’s reliance on renewable electricity is cheaper than the steeping prices of fossil fuels that most campers depend on. Certain possibilities for this Camper Capsule include the required maintenance on it in events of a failed battery or failed outer shelling for example. In these cases the products would be sent back to the provider and fixed there while sending out a loaner Capsule if longer maintenance is required. Another possibility is exterior design where the capsule would have designs, more windows, or other amenities built into it which would allow for a more pleasurable experience
The future for this product has its endeavors, and expansions: the camper’s that the capsule is contending with, might switch to a cleaner source of energy to become affordable.The capsule might need entryways in case one way fails. Variants of the capsule might be seen in office spaces with its axel and jack removed, competing with sleeping pods by providing security and utility.
Appendices
- Testing and Safety Procedures
Before the Camper Capsule becomes available to the public, the capsule will be put on mock scenarios in order to examine if the product fulfills the required criteria and safety measures.
Durability
The Camper Capsule will be placed in rainy environments in order to examine the rot resistant capabilities of the Cedar Exterior.
The Camper Capsule will also be intentionally dented and scratched to inspect the protective qualities of the PolyCarbonate Sheets
Maneuverability
The Camper Capsule will first be transported across test roads to test the efficiency of the Wheel and Axle set
The Camper Capsule will be transported across busy highways in order to examine its maneuverability capabilities in traffic.
Weight Limit
A combination of people and objects of various weights will be placed inside the Camper Capsule to examine how much the capsule can hold
Power Efficiency
The camper Capsule will be placed in sunny environments to observe the charging rate of the solar panels
There will also be devices with chargers that connect with the battery’s outlets to observe the battery’s lifespan
Safety
The electrical components of the Camper Capsule will be observed to find its deterioration condition that is suitable to pose fire hazards
The assembly of the Camper Capsule will be inspected for any cracks, protruding nails, and loose window seals.
- Policies
Return Policy
If a user is unsatisfied with their purchase and is opting for a refund, they must consider that: the Camper Capsule has only 30 days to be returned after the initial purchase, the user will only receive 95% of the money back, and fees will be charged depending on the condition of the capsule when returned.
Maintenance Policy
The maintenance policy for the Camper Capsule has a 2 year warranty
If any simple component ( Magnetic Dormlight, Foldable Mattress, Battery Cable, Storage Bin, Trailer Coupler, Foldable Steel Jack, Battery) is damaged, the user needs to send the damaged component back and they will receive a replacement part.
If any complex component ( Wooden Exterior, Polycarbonate Sheet, Wheel and Axle, Solar Panel, Battery Case, Mattress Holder) is damaged, the user needs to ship the capsule back for repairs.
- Task Schedule
June 2023 – July
The company will pitch the project to investors in the rurals areas of the United States to receive funding to the production of the Camper Capsule
August – September
The Company will rent a building as a place of operations for the Camper Capsule. Materials and tools will be ordered to produce the Camper Capsule. Workers will be hired to operate the tools and the Assembly of the Capsule
October – November
There will be developments for the prototype of the Camper Capsule as well as the execution of the testing and safety procedures on the prototype.
December – June 2024
The production of the Camper Capsule will be streamline and the capsules will be shipped to Rv dealers.
May – June 2024
The company will begin to plan for any future expansions relating to the Camper Capsule.
Sources
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Clear Polycarbonate Sheets. ePlastics Store Page. https://www.eplastics.com/LEXAN-CLR-0-060AM48X48
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Rv Supplies. Home Depot Store Page. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quick-Products-Black-Trigger-Style-Trailer-Coupler-1-7-8-in-Ball-2-in-Channel-2-000-lbs-QP-HS3020/306535421
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Rv Parts. pplmotorhomes storepage. https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/towing-hitches-jacks-chassis/jacks-levelers/base-pads-footpads/swing-away-jack-foot_94-7433
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Camping Lights and Lanterns. Walmart Store Page.
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Tk Trailer Parts. The Trailer Parts Outlet Store Page
- Tech Specs. (n.d) . Portable Power Station and Solar Panel Section. Growwatt Store Page. https://growattportable.com/products/growatt-vita-550-portable-power-station?variant=44227370123451
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