Project
Title: Design of a state-of-the-art wheelchair
Introduction:
The objective of this project is to design a wheel chair which not only meets legal requirements and
standards but is also attractive, comfortable and easy to manoeuvre. The design should appeal to
everyone, whether they are physically challenged or not.
Project Brief:
The main goal is to break with the standard idea of what a wheelchair should look like. In this project
the wheelchair’s features will be optimized to make it user friendly and personalized to take into
account factors in the design such as individual preferences and the external aesthetic image.
This is an innovative project and will give students the opportunity to show their initiative and creative
skills. These skills will be evident not only in the technical development of the project, but also how
they include social commitment; the outcome of this project will improve the life of people with
reduced mobility.
Students will execute a complete project including previous research (legal regulations, technical
aspects, marketing), requirements definition, design process of the product, and final delivery
(schematics, technical specification, etc).
The project includes several areas:
1. Design of Hardware (electrical and mechanical). Design of a mechanical or electric
wheelchair (depending on resulting requirements definition). The mechanical design
should not only take into account the fabric and colours, but also the type of materials of
the components of the wheelchair such as the tyres and the spokes of the wheels; the
shape and colour of the controls and the engine.
Cost is also a crucial factor and keeping it low is important. Reducing expenses in
materials and manufacturing is essential. The design must also bear in mind the personality
and body functions of the user as a base for the whole design of the wheelchair. Including an
electronic component to improve product functionality (movement control, navigation,
communication, etc.) in the design would be an asset.
2. Design of software.
Depending on the electronic components included in the design, programming tasks will be
required.
3. Aesthetic component.
This is related to the hardware part and it has no constrictions on the design provided that it
does not compromise the usability and comfort of the wheelchair.
Company
Name: Catedra d’accesibilitat: (Accessibility Chair)
Project team:
Number of students: 6
Students speciality:
Business Management
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electronics engineering
Chemical engineering
Computer engineering.
Telecommunications engineering.