Product development with LinoPro: The Feasibility analysis
18.11.2019 - Carsten Gäbel
A feasibility analysis is carried out to clarify whether a product vision can be turned into reality at all from a technical and economic point of view. This prevents valuable resources from being invested in less promising projects.
The following questions should be answered by the feasibility analysis: 
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How can we implement the product vision?
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What possibilities exist for implementation in terms of technology and profitability?
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Are all required resources already in stock or available?
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What are likely risks and challenges?
These questions are examined and evaluated by LinoPro on a broad basis across all departments.
In addition to an analysis of current technologies and available assemblies and materials, the feasibility analysis determines the required resources and compares them with the available stock. The resources required can be, for example, technical expertise, software or machines. The engineering office checks with other specialist departments to detect areas where cooperation makes sense in order to reduce development costs through time savings and knowledge transfer. An invaluable advantage is the permanently growing network to universities, partner companies and suppliers.
With the help of initial estimations and simulations in CAD applications, various influences on the product can be investigated. This allows possible weak points and risks to be identified early on and taken into account in further development. With the conclusion of the feasibility analysis, the product concept - which may have been modified in the course of the analysis - is confirmed as the basic solution.
During the development of the LP-LX4 transport drone, an analysis was carried out of the components and materials available on the market for propulsion (motors, rotors, batteries), control and positioning (receiver, motor controller, camera, flight controller ...) and frames (plates and tubes made of CFRP materials). In several iterations of component combinations, a target total weight of 10 kilograms was determined for the drone in order to achieve a flight distance of approximately 25 kilometers and not to exceed the material costs determined. Result of the feasibility analysis: Our engineering office found out that a combination of 8 motors and 4 batteries with a total of 20,000 milliampere-hours (mhA) represents the ideal equipment to provide the necessary electrical power during the entire flight including take-off and landing.
Despite their low weight, the motor arms, each equipped with 2 motors, should be sufficiently stable to be able to withstand the high mechanical stresses and forces. This is a possible weak point that was identified in initial considerations and simulations. The team of the engineering office therefore decided to examine the material strength of the intended CFRP pipes separately.
In the preliminary calculations, sufficient safety was also determined for smaller pipe diameters. The feasibility analysis was able to prove by means of various simulations that the selected material can withstand the expected loads in the motor arm.
Further information about our CAD services and experience with feasibility analyses can also be found here. Contact us and LinoPro's engineering office will be happy to assist you.