Background
According to Garmin website (Garmin, n.d -a) the Garmin Edge 830 is not only a bicycle navigation device but it also provides performance monitoring for cyclist training and recovery. One reason why cyclists do not want to use their phones for navigation is that it drains the battery of the phone, and when the cyclist receives a phone call, the screen is changed to reflect the details of the caller, taking precedence over the navigation screen. ‘ This is the reason why a ”customer wants a product that fits one purpose, something they can put up on their big screen”(Taub, 2015).
Garmin ( n.d. -b) also states that there are three different mounts that the Edge 830 can provide. The standard mount included in the box has two rubber straps that are used to strap around the bike stem connected to the rubber disc which holds the Garmin Edge.
The second and third mounts provided by Garmin are external mounts that need to be bought, both of the mounts use screws to hold the mounts in place which also holds the Garmin edge more securely. Although being more secure, the cost of it is much more expensive than other competitive companies that provide mounts at a lower price which also has a basic mounting mechanism.
According to cyclingweekly website (Obridgewood, 2018), after a period of time the Garmin mounting system wears off and the plastic on the back of the unit worn down over time which can cause the device to vibrate during cycling. Thus, this causes the device to be less secure.
Also, Semantik (2013) suggested in the Online Forum Post ‘Lost my Garmin Device-can Garmin help?’ that once the provided o-rings stretched over the stem over long periods of time, it will loosen and will not fit as snug anymore. The great divide (2013) also added that even after you have lost your device you might not be able to find the device even if you logged in to your Garmin account.
Due to the problems with the current mount offered by Garmin, customers may search for alternative mounts from competitor companies/outside sources such as SRAM which provides a similar mounting system at a lower cost compared with the other three mounts provided by Garmin. Therefore, our team has proposed a secure locking mechanism mount that prevents the Garmin Edge from dropping out from the handlebars of your bicycle will help not only in providing a secure mount it also prevents theft of your Garmin Edge when you forget to remove it from your bicycle this additional feature will be unique to the other mounts available in the market.
To improve the problems faced by Garmin, our group came up with an idea to counter the mounting problem. The idea proposed is to make the device to be mounted on the bike with a magnetic lock that is easily removable by the owner yet prevents the device from being easily stolen.
Problem statement
The basic o-ring mount provided in the box by Garmin is not secure enough to prevent it from falling out of the bicycle. Moreover, once it is lost you might not be able to find it. Although Garmin does provide external accessories for mounting the Garmin Edge it costs too much for just providing basic mounting mechanisms.
Purpose
This report proposes that the Garmin mount design team to implement a locking mechanism that not only allows the cyclist to mount their Garmin Edge but also prevents theft even if the cyclist forgets to remove it from the bicycle.
Modification
The current mount for Garmin Edge only provides a basic mechanism to hold the device. Implementing an improved mount which includes a magnetic lock where only the cyclist has the magnetic key. This allows the cyclist to remove Garmin Edge easily with the magnetic key as well as preventing theft of the device.
Magnetic Lock
Firstly, one key enhancement to the mounts provided by Garmin will be to change the way the device is mounted from pushing it into the mount followed by twisting to the upright position. This is then replaced with using a key to align the magnet then placing the device on top of the mount after the key is removed the magnets will then hold Garmin Edge in place. This key consists of magnets placed at specific regions making each key unique therefore more secure preventing theft.
Universal mount
Another key addition for the mount is that it can be mounted to other means of transportation such as motorcycles. Currently, Garmin has three different types of mount that are only suitable to be mounted on bicycles. By having a universal mount, users can save the cost of buying mounts as they can use the mount for both bicycles and motorcycles.
Choice of material
Another proposed modification on the mount is to revise the material used to manufacture it. Since the mount will be exposed to various weather conditions, it is advised that the material is relatively light proof. Ultraviolet light from the sun causes plastics to go through a process called photodegradation where the plastics disintegrate (Chandler, 2012). Being exposed under the sun for long hours will deteriorate the plastic and lose its durability and strength. Hence, it is not wise to have the mount to fail during the cycling routine.
Combining into a single unit
A final modification that would be beneficial for the user is by combining the Garmin Edge and the mount itself together as one unit. Therefore, there is no need for the user to keep on removing the device every time they are done with their cycling exercise. If the previously mentioned modifications have been implemented, it would not be a problem for the device to be left alone. Firstly, the device will be well secured and locked with the aid of the new magnetic locking system. Secondly, the mount can withstand various weather conditions and that the Garmin Edge itself is already waterproof.
Benefits
The risk of theft will be greatly reduced with the additional safety features being implemented on the Garmin mount. Besides that, the additional features also provide a better choice of material that can protect the device under harsh conditions and helps the user to save the cost of buying mounts as it is not only restricted to be used for bicycles but also other transportation as well. Lastly, by combining the Garmin Edge and the mount itself together as one unit would be a great benefit for the user as there is no need for the user to keep on removing the device every time they are done with their cycling exercise.
Evaluation
Although the magnetic lock, universal mount, better material and combination of the device into a single unit do provide their benefits, the team foresees a few challenges that might be faced.
To implement all of the proposed modifications, a substantial amount of research and development (R&D) will be required especially for the magnetic lock system and material choice, increasing the R&D costs. This greatly raises the overall price of the Garmin Edge and the mount, which may discourage potential customers as the price may be higher than most mounts currently out on the market. Additionally, in the event that a customer loses their magnetic key required to unlock and remove their device from the mount, it will require either Garmin to send personnel down to where the customer is or the customer has to transport their entire bicycle to a Garmin service centre to remove the device using a master key and purchase a replacement key.
However, there are many designs on the market that Garmin can reference and there is publically available materials research that can be found easily. This ensures a simpler, less time consuming and more cost-efficient research and development for Garmin. Although it is the responsibility of the customers to keep track of their magnetic key, the creation of a master magnetic key is not difficult and should already be included in the initial prototyping.
Weighing the pros and cons, the team concludes that the potential benefits outweigh the problems Garmin may face. Thus the team trusts that sales will be boosted if Garmin embraces the ideas and improves the ease of mounting and the security of the device as these modifications are long term benefits.
Methodology
The relevant information for the completion of this report was referenced from secondary research sources.
Secondary Research
Detailed research was done on the device and mount, their shortcomings, and the potential modifications in order to develop an effective design proposal. The team used official sites from Garmin in addition to secondary resources to support the research. The Garmin websites were used to comprehend the main features of the devices as well as the mounting process. Pros and cons, as well as potential modifications needed to resolve the problems, were found using secondary sources. Secondary sites were also referenced to present applicable issues to improve the reliability of the proposal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, modification into a magnetic lock, universal mount, weather-resistant material and combination into a single unit should be implemented to make the Garmin Edge more secure. These modifications will enable an easier mounting process while ensuring the security of the device. If Garmin applies these modifications to their current mounts and devices, the mount will be simple to install and users can leave their device on their bicycles with the ease of mind that it will not be stolen. This will give Garmin an edge over its competitors.
References
Taub, E. A. (2015, July 17). What Stand-Alone GPS Devices Do That Smartphones Can’t. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/technology/personaltech/what-stand-alone-gps-devices-do-that-smartphones-cant.html
