The proper topic of my bachelor´s thesis is Design of a Truck. I have chosen it, as I am very keen on automobile design. In my spare time, I enjoy designing sports and family cars, as well as off-road vehicles. Therefore, it has been a welcome change and considerable challenge to design a truck. From the very beginning, I had known that I wanted to devote the design to a product of the Tatra truck manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. My project, called Tatra Tomcat, is a two-seat truck, with six electro motors running on lithium-ion batteries. Electro motors constitute a part of each wheel, with the batteries hidden in the chassis, behind the driver´s cabin. It could seem that the placement of the motor directly in the axe of the wheel is innovative and timeless, but in fact, it is not. It had been invented more than 100 years ago by the world-famous constructor Ferdinand Porsche. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the batteries only had a small, insufficient capacity, today, the situation is considerably different. In the near future, most cars shall be run by alternative sources of power, a dominating part of which will be electro motors. The comfort driving on any surface shall be secured by electromagnetic absorbers, which enable setting freely the rigidness. This invention comes from the German automobile producer Audi; however, for a truck, it is being used for the first time.The design of the Tatra truck is innovative and at the same time, it is based on the tradition of the Kopřivnice automobile legend. The large front window of the driver´s cabin is a new element, securing a good view from the cabin, including in complex situations. Viewing the truck from the side, we shall be drawn in by its dynamic shape, evoking the feeling of power and motion. The major areas of the cabin are, however, simple, vertical and they may even look austere. The aim was to provide a buffed design, commanding respect. For inspiration, I looked to architecture, nature, current trends of the automobile design, as well as to the interplanetary space ships from the world-famous Star Wars movie series. Tatra Tomcat uses the most up to date technologies, which simplify the driver´s tasks. Three cameras, having replaced the spring-back mirrors, are another innovative element of the truck. The picture from these cameras is transferred to a large LCD screen. Yet another new feature is a group of safety elements, unparalleled in the category of trucks and utility vehicles. Especially, these include an airbag determined to protect against other vehicles or an airbag against the impact with a pedestrian. All safety systems are managed by a smart computer, which uses the camera system and radar for its function. Tatra can be delivered in various variants, with a different number of wheels and trailers. Tomcat constitutes a new generation of trucks and in a time of economic challenges, brings Tatra some positive prospects.
