The technology required for the simple task of transporting delivery goods from the pick-up point on to the vehicle to off the vehicle at the drop-off point of delivery has given the commercial industry of delivery truck drivers several different options in order to complete their task. Currently existing on the market there are several options: lifts attached to the truck that are manually unfolded with remote controls to set desired height for delivery; large ramps provided by the drop-off point, that are rolled to the bed of the truck usually for extremely heavy and large loads or a simple ramp placed at the bed of the truck extending to the ground which are used for small loads

The team’s goal is to manufacture a ramp that will ease the task of delivery by creating a semi-automatic ramp attached to the truck that will incorporate variable length, angle, and lift characteristics in order to increase efficiency in loading and unloading of delivery goods. The ramp will include telescoping, inclination and lifting features in order to accommodate for an array of dock heights or stair lengths. The product will move from the storage position to the usable position semi-autonomously, following user directions. The team will use a system that has already been designed and proven to be fully capable of performing the required tasks.

Manufacture a scaled down prototype based on a design created previously by the group. The primary function of the ramp is to make the loading and unloading of a truck easier and less stressful for the personnel performing the job. We propose to accomplish this with a semi-automated system designed around a lifting mechanism to deploy a ramp to desired height, while incorporating telescoping and angulations features. This mechanical system will incorporate three major features. The first will change the angle of the ramp to accommodate for various unloading heights. The second will extend the ramp surface from the storage position to the desired useable length. The third will lift from the truck bed to the ground floor.