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Title:
Rehabilitating Tricycle
Program:
Assistive Technology Development
Financial Assistance Program
(ASEE/DEED & NISH)
Applicants:
David Horne
Lukasz Krzeminski
Ernesto Rosini
Sean Walters
Faculty Advisors: Oscar Lopez-Pamies (Assistant Professor)
Yu Zhou (Assistant Professor)
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794
1. Objective
The objective of this design project is to create a safe and comfortable rehabilitating
tricycle that people with physical impairments may use in order to build flexibility and
strength in their legs. We will custom design a prototype tricycle for a specific child with
a physical handicap affecting his/her legs, with the ultimate goal of creating a series of
such rehabilitation devices for both children and adults (Fig.1). An important
consideration is to promote a positive, optimistic outlook in the student, by ensuring that
he/she enjoys and looks forward to using the tricycle.
Fig.1 Conceptual diagram of rehabilitating tricycle
Many children with gross motor impairments have limitations in basic physical
activities such as walking and riding a bike. It is very important for those with physical
disabilities to exercise their muscles sufficiently in order to reduce the potential
hardening of the muscles and to sustain mobility. In particular, it is critical for children
with physical disabilities to be rehabilitated at an early age, which may eventually
liberate them from a life-time dependence on caretakers.
Rehabilitation has always been a major milestone of progress for those with physical
disabilities and limitations. With improvements in medicine and medical procedures,
there is much hope for those with debilitating conditions to experience significant
recovery. Rehabilitation efforts can be difficult, as no two conditions are exactly alike.
We have embarked on a course to design a rehabilitating tricycle, intended to promote leg
movement and build muscle strength. Our unique design will limit ankle movement,
because, in many cases, individuals have limited ankle mobility. We hope to provide the
user with beneficial treatment, as well as an enjoyable, motivating experience.
2. Workscope
We conducted a preliminary survey with the teachers and therapists at the Premm
Learning Center in Long Island, New York (an organization that caters to the disabled
and handicapped). Our findings show a strong demand for a tricycle that would allow
children with gross motor impairments to use it without having to bend or rotate the
joints in their ankle. This type of device would provide necessary constraints to these
children and allow them to more controllably move their legs. In doing so, they would
gain both strength and flexibility, which would eventually allow them to move their legs
more controllably without the device. To help those children to recover from their
impairments, we plan to design a rehabilitation tricycle which will “train” them to move
their limbs correctly.
The tricycle will have a three-wheel platform. The child will be seated in a high-back
foam seat, providing stability and ensuring safety. Behind the seat frame, there is a
handlebar, similar to that of a shopping cart, which allows a physical therapist to
maneuver the tricycle. This handlebar is equipped with a braking lever, which can stop
the tricycle or gauge its velocity. The child will be seated in the tricycle, and, depending
on the condition and functionality of his/her legs, the proper resistance will be applied to
the pedals through a tensioning device. For example, a beginner could start with a very
small amount of tension on the pedals, while a physical trainer pushed the child around,
requiring minimal effort from the child. The movement of the wheels would be connected
to the gear-train, thus forcing the pedals to rotate. This motion would exercise the child’s
legs, through joint rotation as well as muscle extension. As the child gains strength and
mobility, the pedal resistance could be increased. Our hope is for the student to
eventually be able to power the tricycle independently.
The rehabilitating tricycle will be safe and stable. It will be designed for a specific
child, and its all-terrain tires will allow for both indoor and outdoor use. The resistance
adjustment will be designed to be user friendly and easy to operate. To encourage fun,
magnetic switches mounted on the wheels will trigger lights and bells as the tricycle
moves. The electrical system will be powered by a rechargeable battery.
3. Schedule
Following the methodology of total design, we define the major tasks of our project
as the following:
1) Market Research & Analysis: We conduct a through analysis of existing products
that are relevant to our own concept, so as to prevent product duplication.
2) Product Design Specification: We will detail the guidelines and specifications for
every aspect of our design process.
3) Conceptual Design: We will create and evaluate different conceptual designs
based on PDS and pick the concept matching the user need and PDS best as the
final system design.
4) Detail Design: We will design the components and subsystems for the best system
concept.
5) Fabrication: We will manufacture the tricycle based on the Detailed Design.
6) Testing: We will test the tricycle for strength, durability, and overall performance.
Our projected timetable is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Project Timeline
COMPLETION DATE
TASK
October 15th, 2007
Market Research & Analysis
October 31st, 2007
December 1st, 2007
Product Design Specification
Conceptual Design
December 31st, 2007
March 1st, 2008
Detailed Design
Fabrication
May 1st, 2008
May 8th, 2008
Testing
Final Presentation
4. Budget
Our tentative budget accounts for all projected costs of the design process (Table 2).
Raw materials include steel and other metals that will be used. Parts and supplies are
those components that will be purchased already made or assembled. Fabrication
includes machining and manufacturing costs. Electronics encompasses the electrical
aspects of the tricycle.
Table 2: Budget
Item
Budget
Raw Materials
Parts & Supplies
Fabrication
Electronics
TOTAL
$600.00
$300.00
$300.00
$120.00
$1,320.00
As our estimated budget expenses exceed the amount of money we have been allotted
by our school, we are seeking additional funding from the Assistive Technology
Development Financial Assistance Program in the amount of $350.
5. Department Co-Funding
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook University supplies
students with $230.00/each for their senior design project. Our group comprises of four
students, giving our group a total co-funding of $920.00. We plan to reach out to
companies and other people to help us fund our project. We also have the access to Stony
Brook University’s machine shop and CAD lab.
6. Project Team
Our team comprises of four mechanical engineering senior students, David Horne,
Lukasz Krzeminski, Ernesto Rosini, and Sean Walters. Ernesto Rosini is a director in his
volunteer Fire Dept. and an Intern Engineer at a fire truck manufacture. David Horne is
an Intern Engineer at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Lukasz Krzeminski is a parttime SAE master auto-technician. Sean Walters is an Intern Engineer at a laser metal
fabrication company. Our faculty advisor is Oscar Lopez-Pamies, professor of
Mechanical Engineering whose expertise is Solid Mechanics. Our senior design project
course instructor is Prof. Yu Zhou, who specializes in Machine Design and Robotics.
7. External Collaboration
We have established a relationship with Mr. Thomas Rosati, a speech teacher at the
Premm Learning Center on Long Island, New York—an elementary program facility that
serves students ranging from 5 - 21 years old who are mentally retarded, physically
handicapped and/or multiply disabled.
8. Faculty Advisor Contact Information
Our faculty advisors may be contacted as following
1) Prof. Yu Zhou: phone: (631) 632-8322, email: [email protected].
2) Prof. Oscar Lopez-Pamies: email: [email protected].