The Design, Build, and Impact of a Basic Utility Vehicle in Uganda

About The Design, Build, and Impact of a Basic Utility Vehicle in Uganda

Abstract

The Baylor University Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) student group is organized around the fundamental premise that ‘simple vehicles change lives’. BUVs are low cost, rugged, reliable vehicles able to carry upwards of 1 ton of cargo with a 11hp engine with a focus on helping disadvantaged people in developing countries. In May 2019, Baylor BUV students traveled to Northern Uganda to build a BUV with vocational school students at the Village of Hope (VOH) Uganda. VOH provides housing, food, training, and spiritual support for over 350 orphaned children, refugees of the recent Ugandan civil war. Our VOH BUV project engaged the engineering and design expertise of Baylor engineering students and the fabrication talents and local logistical support of the VOH students and staff. Major vehicle components including the engine, transmission, and rear axle, in addition to all steel and wood were sourced locally in Uganda; while detailed drive train components were sourced or fabricated at Baylor and transported to the VOH vehicle build site. Nine Baylor engineering students worked closely with 17 VOH vocational school students to build a running BUV in just 9 days. This paper presents the Baylor BUV design, details of the VOH build experience, key interactions between Baylor BUV and VOH, challenges of doing engineering projects abroad, and trip highlights. As a result of this project, VOH now has a BUV to assist in their agricultural and day-to-day support activities, and both Baylor engineers and VOH vocational students have an experience that will shape their future.