Scientific Experiences in Applied Technology

Vehicles left in open parking areas are continuously exposed to sunlight, which accelerates degradation of both exterior and interior components. This study presents the design and evaluation of a semi-automatic portable car cover intended to protect vehicles from ultraviolet radiation and other environmental factors, particularly for online-taxi drivers who typically do not have access to a private garage. The development process comprised several stages: concept design, technical calculation of frame strength and motor capacity, component selection, assembly, and functional testing of the open–close mechanism. A simplified structural check of the main C-channel/hollow-iron frame indicated an estimated bending stress of approximately 81.7 MPa under an idealized midspan load, corresponding to a safety factor of about 3.0 against the yield strength of mild steel; a torque-balance check likewise showed that the installed 0.63 N•m AC gear motor provides only a narrow margin (estimated safety factor of 1.03–1.09) over the torque required to overcome rail friction, indicating limited but adequate capacity under the assumed conditions. Functional testing showed that the prototype opens in an average of 34.8 s and closes in an average of 36.94 s, both within the 40 s design target, over a limited set of three trials; a larger sample size is recommended to statistically confirm repeatability. The system extends up to 4 m in length and operates through a semi-automatic AC-motor-driven controller, offering a practical and comparatively low-cost alternative to commercial products such as Lanmodo and Krisbow's Prestige cover line.