Problem

A woman with cerebral palsy was constantly breaking the on/off switch of her wheelchair's control module due to poor design. This left her feeling like a burden to her family and limited her independence.

We saw this as a problem that needed to be solved, as it was affecting the quality of life for this woman and potentially others in similar situations. I decided to use my senior capstone to design a solution for this woman.

Listen to a podcast here on the project.

https://theshiningbeautifulseries.libsyn.com/the-answer-is-out-there-crowdsourcing-sb-style

Solution

I decided to create a custom paramentrically designed and 3D printed bumper for the control module of the wheelchair. This would protect the on/off switch from damage and prevent it from being accidentally broken off of the side of the chair.

After conceptualizing and prototyping, I implemented the bumper and tested it thoroughly. The result was a successful solution that gave the woman greater independence and peace of mind.

Impact

Increased independence for the woman with cerebral palsy
Potential for improved quality of life for others in similar situations
100% reduction in repair costs for broken on/off switches

"Redacted could not stop smiling when you dropped of the latest version, and has been using it without another issue with her chair for over a year."

Team

Kyler Rolo - Product Designer
- Oversaw the design and prototyping of the bumper
- Worked closely with the woman to ensure the bumper met her needs

3D Printed Bumper Enhances Wheelchair Control