FRUGAL INNOVATION IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH: CASE STUDY OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A PEDAL-ASSISTED TRICYCLE WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR – AN ALTERNATIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION ON THE BIKE PATHS OF THE FEDERAL DISTRICT
Frugal innovation, urban mobility, electric tricycle, sustainability, low-cost project
This master’s dissertation presents the application of frugal innovation concepts in a case study focused on the development of a pedal-assisted electric tricycle. The project, carried out at the Built Environment Rehabilitation Laboratory (LabRAC) at the University of Brasília (UnB), aimed to create a sustainable, accessible, and low-cost urban mobility solution for bike paths in the Federal District of Brazil. A qualitative, exploratory, and explanatory approach was adopted, structured as a case study, with data collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, document analysis, and photographic records. The investigation showed that the practical application of frugal innovation principles was decisive in enabling the project in a context of limited resources, resulting in a functional prototype with replication potential. The findings indicate significant contributions to social inclusion and environmental sustainability, demonstrating that such concepts can serve as an effective alternative to traditional methods of developing academic projects.