News approved.

Pics... most importantly pics!!! And im wondering how did they manage to stabilize the bike for excavation purposes etc.

Engineering students develop pocket excavator for narrow lanes

Thiruvananthapuram, April 15, 2011

It has become a common practice for public works contractors across the State to engage migrant labourers for digging cable trenches and conduits for water pipes along roads. Very often, it is the limitations of using an excavator on narrow roads that lead to the dependence on manual labour. But it also means having to deal with middlemen who supply labourers from across the country; agents who provide inadequate facilities, including accommodation for the workers; and officials cracking down on violations of labour laws.

A group of final year Mechanical Engineering students of Carmel Engineering College, Pathanamthitta, has come up with a solution to the problem. The students, Solomon Joseph, S. Shamersha, S. Nikhil, Sanju Verghese, Sooraj Ravikumar and G. Sudheeshkumar, have developed an excavator mounted on a motorcycle that can be used for small jobs like gardening, cleaning drains and digging up narrow roads and removing soil for foundation work.

The vehicle, which essentially consists of an excavator boom mounted on the rear of a motorcycle, can be used in places inaccessible for a bulky excavator machine. By replacing the scoop at the tip of the boom, the ‘Bicyvator', as the students have named the contraption, can dig holes and trenches of different sizes and shapes. “The major advantage of this machine is that it can work in very narrow spaces,” says Shamersha. The students claim that Bicyvator uses just one litre of petrol to work an hour. The team spent Rs.30,000 on developing the machine. They say that on a commercial scale, the cost of modifying the two-wheeler could be kept to Rs.10,000.

Senior Lecturer Pradeep George guided the students.



Source : The Hindu : NATIONAL / KERALA : Engineering students develop pocket excavator for narrow lanes

^^ Thanks man... But something like this fitted to the back of a TATA Ace would be more beneficial. You could load the ACE with the soil, and then drive off with it to dump it also.

A very good project in hydraulic systems and mechanics.

Why don't you be the first one to do so?

^^ depends if someone would want a mini sized excavator. I have worked for a week in the JCB plant here in faridabad, so some knowledge might come handy!!!

very good project .............although how much usefull it is, i can not comment. it seems balancing a bike for excavation will be a bit difficult.

the rider has to park his bike on center stand and sit in opposite direction i.e. facing backwards and then work with excavator.

a bit difficult.

but i am happy they used our humble beast, pulsar for that.

you always keep on wondering what all modifications pulsar can endure.

watch closely (rear wheel tyre), the setup has extended hydraulic legs to give the whole vehicle and digging bucket full stability same as JCBs have.

I like the idea behind it, very innovative. its definitely not build for a heavy dig. this setup on a bike adds mobility to extreme narrow places and would easily take up the job of 2-3 laborers.

btw, why the hell those two men on the right are copy-pasted?

I guess now they will be patenting this and those guys wanted their piece of cake! So!

Happens when you are junior and seniors try to gain something from your innovation!

Innovative!Nice!

An excellent and innovative idea.

Hope the contractor mafia adopts it soon.

As for those with suggestions/questions about it's excavating and hauling abilities, please read the beginning of the post which mentions the unique application it was designed for. Digging cable and pipe trenches. Usually the dirt is refilled.

Kudos for even trying something like this.

Ride safe (Dig safer)

Excellent

Hi, this is an excellent example of innovation & I'm sure the students gained lots of knowledge & practical experience after building this project rather than the usual boring projects passed down generations. All the best to you guys. Keep it up.