The Objective Of This Project Is To Design A Wheelchair With The Ability To Transport Its User Over Any Obstacle, Such As A Curb

Title: A Wheelchair to Overcome Curbs

Program: Assistive Technology Development Financial Assistance Program (ASEE/DEED & NISH)

Applicants: Jason Plagianos, Brian Tepfer, Tao Ni

Faculty Advisors: Chad Korach (Assistant Professor) Yu Zhou (Assistant Professor)

Affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 11794 1. Objective

The objective of this project is to design a wheelchair with the ability to transport its user over an obstacle, such as a curb. We realize that few people have the means to pay for an expensive electrical model that can climb curbs and steps, while others may find those models too bulky or cumbersome for the home or workplace. By adding some new components to the standard wheelchair, we aim to provide an inexpensive alternative that increases mobility without sacrificing maneuverability. To accomplish our goal, we will carry out the following major tasks: formulating design ideas, 3D modeling and computer analysis, ordering/machining parts, building prototype, and testing the wheelchair.

The final goal of this project is to help those who have to rely on a wheelchair to get around. Our design will provide more freedom, more independence, and more mobility at a cheaper cost than anything on the market today. We hope to give the disabled more options for their transportation needs.

2. Workscope

A few design ideas have been generated based on the standard mechanical wheelchair. Our first idea is a powered wheelchair with augmented wheels attached by a rubber tank like tread which allows the wheelchair to overcome any type of obstacle with the addition of motors behind each of the big wheels. Our second idea will employ another augmentation on the wheels and chair which utilizes hydraulics to push the chair over a curb. Our third design idea keeps the standard wheelchair design intact but adds the ability to carry its own ramp, which is easily moved and placed by a series of motors and its own independent axial. Our fourth design idea replaces the front wheels of the chair with small, angled, free rolling treads, and relies on larger rear tires with powerful motors to get the chair over the curb. We are currently exploring the feasibility of these designs along with others to determine the best one. The final design will be judged on cost, weight, feasibility, ergonomics, and ability to handle obstacles. Once the final design is chosen, the parts will be ordered and the wheelchair will be built according to the schedule on the next page. Our design will then be tested thoroughly for the next few weeks to make sure our model can handle its projected task and is durable enough to withstand repeated and constant use. Necessary changes will be made to refine the final design. The final design will be completed at the beginning of May. For the prototype to be considered complete, it must be able to carry each of the group members for extended periods of time without incident, it must be able to carry itself and its driver over a curb, it must be easy to drive, and it must be comfortable enough for an entire day’s use. 3. Preliminary Schedule

The design project will be broken into 5 different tasks to be completed over an 8-month period: Task 1 – Formulating design ideas Task 2 – 3D computer modeling and analysis of design ideas/ Final design choice Task 3 – Ordering or machining all necessary parts Task 4 – Building prototype Task 5 – Testing prototype.

The building and testing of the prototype will be an iterative process. The final prototype will be tested and retested to see if any changes to the design are needed, and parts will be ordered and added as needed. It is for this reason that Tasks 3, 4 and 5 continue until the project is completed. The milestone chart for the project is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 – Milestone Chart Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5

4. Budget

There are two parts of this project that will require a substantial monetary investment: the purchasing of supplies and materials, and machining of custom parts. The budget for the project is shown in Table 2.

Table 2 – Project Budget Wheelchair Mechanism $350 Power Supply $200 Supplies Motors and Drivers $300 and Design Components $400 Materials Control Circuitry $50 Misc. (nuts, bolts, etc.) $50 Machining $100 Total $1,450 5. Department Co-Funding

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Stony Brook University will reimburse us for cost spent on the project up to $230 a person. With three group members, this leaves us with $690 total. We are currently investigating other avenues for funding, since our total projected cost is more than our allotted funding.

6. Responsibilities of Team Members

The design team consists of three senior mechanical engineering students from Stony Brook University. They are Jason Plagiano, Brian Tepfer and Tao Ni. Tasks will be assigned to each of the group members based on their specific strengths.

The common tasks that all three of us will work on together will be conceptual design, final design, market analysis, PDS, patent search, and the manufacturing and testing of the wheelchair.

Jason Plagianos’s emphasis will be in the actual construction of the wheelchair and machining of simple parts.

Brian Tepfer’s responsibilities will cover the 3D computer modeling of components and final prototype of the wheelchair. He will also analyze the theoretical structural analysis of animated computer model under various conditions.

Tao Ni will do the mathematical modeling of stress and strain forces acting on the various materials that will be used to build the wheelchair.

7. External Collaboration

The Premm Learning Center is a school that serves severely developmentally delayed 5 to 21 year-olds. They work in cooperation with the parents to ensure that each student reaches their maximum potential academically, socially and physically. They help each student achieve their highest level of independence. Tom Rosati is a teacher at the Premm Learning Center and will be able to advise us on the needs of the users of our wheelchair.

Tom Rosati – Teacher at Premm Learning Center E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 631-567-4901

8. Faculty Contact Information

Chad S. Korach – Faculty Advisor – Expert in tribology and solid mechanics E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 631-632-1182

Yu Zhou – Course Instructor – Expert in machine design and robotics E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 631-632-8322