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Candidate
Team Projects - 2018
Team
Projects are for suitable for teams of students (typically 3) taking the
course for three credit units.
These projects
will be "pitched" in class on Thursday, January
11th
Project
contacts are listed on the handout distributed on the first day of
class.
"Recommended
Skillset" is dependent on the selected design concept.
Team Project Titles:
(year originally suggested)
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Prosthetics / Orthotics
Projects:
Lighter Leg
Braces 
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Background: This project
focuses on people like Peter, the project suggestor, who wears leg braces to
prevent knee buckling and subsequent falling.
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Problem: Peter reports that
his first braces were light but didn't stay in place. His present braces have a
component that fits under his heels that solved the slipping problem, but they
are heavier, resulting in slower ambulation.
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Aim: Explore designs for
improved braces that makes walking safer and less tiring.
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Design Criteria:
- Lighter than existing
braces
- Functional knee locking
feature
- Safe to use
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Other:
- Students must perform a
mechanical analysis to determine brace forces and address challenges of
structure, stability, and weight perception.
- All fitting and testing must be
done under the supervision of Gary Berke, a Stanford orthotist /
prosthetist.
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering
- Links:
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Hybrid Body-Powered Harness
Project
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Background:
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Problem: A traditional
body-powered prosthetic device employs a cable system that runs from the
prosthetic hand across the back to the opposite shoulder. The prosthetic hand
is powered by either flexion of the shoulder or by flexion abduction of the
scapulae. An upper body amputee who wears a body-powered prosthesis must make
abnormal movements operate the prosthetic hand. These movements may bring
unwanted attention to the wearer and may also compromise the action and range
of action of the prosthesis. Additionally, persons with severe scar tissue or
the inability to generate sufficient force may not be able to operate a
body-powered prosthesis. In addition, body-powered systems are generally less
cosmetically pleasing than passive or myoelectric models.
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Aim: Explore alternative
ways of controlling the prosthetic device, perhaps using electronic sensors and
electromechanical systems.
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Design Criteria:
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Grip Sense
Project
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Background:
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Problem: Users of upper limb
electro-mechanical hand prostheses do not have an easy way of determining the
grip strength that their device is producing. Too little grip may result in the
grasped object slipping out of their hand, while too much strength may damage
or crush the object.
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Aim: Explore designs for a
simple sensor system that will inform the user of the grip strength being
produced by his/her prosthetic device. The sensing modality must be something
other than vibration.
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Design Criteria:
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Projects with
Abby 
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Background: Abby is an
artist, a retired art teacher (grades K-College), a psychiatric social worker,
and a computer graphic designer. She is an individual with multiple
disabilities: a mobility challenge, a bipolar disorder, and a visual
impairment. She is passionate about making a difference and advocating for
individual rights. She has been a chair of the
Consumer
Advisory Council and formerly represented consumers on the Board of
Directors of NAMI (National Alliance on
Mental Illness) in Santa Clara County and has volunteered in their
Connection
Recovery Support Group and the
Peer
PAL Program. She has also volunteered for the
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, has been on the
Board of Directors
of the Silicon Valley Independent Living
Center (SVILC), has successfully been involved in litigation to preserve
the rights of service dog recipients when they are hospitalized, and has
presented Poster Sessions and spoken at conferences including NAMI's National
Convention, California ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) 2015 Conference
celebrating 25 years and the California Council of the Blind's Annual
Convention. Abby has recently acquired a new service dog, Nathan, from
Canine Partners for Life (CPL) in
Cochranville, PA. She has also joined their Advisory Council.
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Projects for Abby's
Wheelchair
- 1.
Personalization Project
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Background: "I am delighted
to have mobility devices that include the WHILL Model M Electric Vehicle, and
my service dog Nathan from Canine Partners for Life. Although the wheelchair is
quite modern in design, I am an active senior, participating in numerous
organizations both for personal and professional reasons, as well as
recreational activities. It would be great to have some ways to personalize
both the chair and my dog to reflect these various ways to be in the
world."
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Problem: Individuals, such
as Abby, who use wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers have little opportunity to
extend their personal sense of fashion and aesthetics to these devices. This is
exacerbated by the fact that the equipment covered by health insurance or
Medicare is often the most "basic" version with a plain design. Whereas one's
choice of clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry are made on a daily basis,
users of these devices have to "wear" the same equipment everyday and for every
occasion.
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Aim: Explore ways to add a
personal aesthetic to Abby's Whill
wheelchair.
- 2.
Enhanced Visibility Project
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Background: "The WHILL does
have some rear lights, but no real way to illuminate my path for early morning
or late afternoon activities such as walking my dog or going out at night. This
is a real problem when you consider where there are van accessible parking
spaces and locations of activities. A movie and restaurant outing with may
include parking one place, and meeting friends in a location a block or so
away. Lighting is not always available in parking lots, and many time parking
lots are located in back of buildings. Adequate lighting means the difference
between safe maneuvering both me and my dog wherever I want to
go."
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Problem: Abby's new
wheelchair has limited lighting which creates a safety hazard while walking
Nathan in the early morning or traveling at night.
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Aim: Explore ways to enhance
the night time visibility of Abby's wheelchair.
- 3.
Storage Project
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Problem: Abby's new
wheelchair has no provision for storing personal items or transporting
groceries.
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Aim: Explore ways to add a
personal secure storage space and facilitate grocery transportation and
handling.
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Other:
Photos
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Projects for Abby's Service Dog,
Nathan
- 1.
Simultaneous Operation Project
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Background: "Canine Partners
for Life has made some modifications with flexi leashes for powerchair users.
The design of the WHILL does not lend itself to this kind of modification.
Operating the WHILL while controlling a dog with a leash is a real challenge.
The leash has to be able to go on either side, or in front and back of the
chair, while at the same time be short enough to not get caught in the front
wheels, or the arm rests. I was recently at IKEA, and the leash I was using got
twisted around one of the front wheels under the wheel cover. This is a
dangerous situation for me as well as my dog. As my service dog is with me
wherever I go, this presents a continual problem in our lives."
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Problem: Wheelchair and
scooter users like Abby can have a difficult time simultaneously operating
their mobility device and controlling their service animal.
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Aim: Explore ways to make it
easier for Abby to operate her wheelchair and control Nathan.
- 2.
Harness Project
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Background: "Nathan’s
harness has three clasps to attach fuzzies uner his belly, and both front legs.
This means daily opening and closing these while I am putting on and taking off
the harness each day. With hand difficulties the pinching of the clasps is
extremely difficult."
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Problem: Individuals like
Abby who do not have a strong grip may experience difficulties with buckling
and unbuckling their service animal's harness, especially while seated in their
mobility device.
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Aim: Explore ways to make it
easier for Abby to put on and take off Nathan's harness.
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Other:
Photos
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Overall Design Criteria:
- The design should not alter or
permanently deface or damage the physical structure of the
wheelchair.
- The customization should be able
to easily be installed, removed, changed, cleaned, and washed by the
user.
- The design should work on a
number of popular / standard scooters covered by insurance and
Medicare.
- Consider different user personas
and aesthetics (e.g. refined / elegant, modern / contemporary, smart / sporty,
premium / luxury, male / female, as well as the age of user, etc).
- Consider fabrics, metal
finishes, colors, patterns, lights, textures, and text elements.
- Consider a variety of usage
occasions (e.g. in-home, outdoors, party, tailgater, etc).
- The design should be inexpensive
and easy to fabricate.
- Consider designs that would
enhance wheelchair visibility at night, especially when crossing
streets.
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering
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Links:
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Projects with
June:
Clean House
Project
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Background: June is an older
adult who uses a rollator for balance and stability when moving around her San
Francisco home.
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Problem: June's use of her
rollator makes it difficult for her to perform home cleaning tasks
independently.
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Aim: Explore designs to
provide a safe, effective, and independent means of performing common household
cleaning tasks.
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Design Criteria: The
solution must be safe to use, easy to operate, and be compact to
store.
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Other: Visits to June's home
in San Francisco will be required.
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering
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Links:
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Within Reach
Project
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Background: June is an older
adult who increasingly finds that items in her upper kitchen and closet shelves
are now out of her reach.
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Problem: Currently available
step stool solutions do not meet her needs: some are too tall, others have a
stepping area that is too small, and most do not have hand-holds to provide
needed balance and stability during reaching. Finally many step stools are
heavy and bulky, making them difficult to move and position.
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Aim: Explore designs to
provide a safe and stable means of accessing items on upper
shelves.
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Design Criteria: The
solution must be easy to move and position, offer a sense of security during
use; have a wide, non-slip surface; provide the proper height advantage; and be
collapsible for storage.
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Other: Visits to June's home
in San Francisco will be required.
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Links:
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Projects with
Tony:
Pack Rat
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Background: Like everyone
else, wheelchair users have a variety of items with them as they travel from
place to place. But, unlike everyone else, wheelchair users can not make use of
shoulder-worn backpacks.
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Problem: Existing wheelchair
storage products exhibit problems related to security, access, and
size.
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Aim: Explore designs for a
manual wheelchair storage system that addresses shortcomings of existing
products.
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Design Criteria:
The storage system design
should be:
- secure
- protect items from theft (high priority)
- safe -
not expose the user to a risk of harm
- stable
- no adverse affect on the wheelchair's balance
- accessible - easy to store and retrieve items
- narrow
- no increase in the wheelchair's width profile
- large
enough to carry a laptop
- compatible or adaptable to a variety of manual
wheelchairs
- removable - to facilitate wheelchair transfers
- composed of low cost materials
- easy
to fabricate
- durable
- easy
to install, remove, cleaned, and washed by the user
- waterproof
- incorporate a lap tray (low priority)
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Other: The design should not
alter or permanently deface or damage the physical structure of the
wheelchair.
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Recommended Skillsets:
Sewing
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Links:
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Wheelchair Camber
Project
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Background: Wheelchair
camber is the slight sideways inclination of the large rear wheels of a manual
wheelchair from vertical. While positive camber improves a wheelchair's
stability, it also increases its overall width profile.
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Problem: The narrowest
profile manual wheelchair configuration - in which the wheels are vertical
(zero camber) - are favored when negotiating doorways that are less than 30
inches wide. Furniture placement can also present indoor obstacles to wider
wheelchairs. However, when traveling outdoors, having the wheelchair wheels
flared out (positive camber) improves stability and prevents tipping over on
uneven ground, dirt trails, curb cuts, and cracked sidewalks.
Manual wheelchairs are sold with a
non-adjustable fixed axle and camber setting which provides a compromised
ability to handle both outdoor stability and indoor access and
maneuverability.
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Aim: Explore mechanical
solutions to add camber adjustability to a manual wheelchair to improve
performance both indoors and outdoors.
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Design Criteria:
- Camber settings should range
from 0 to 6 degrees for each wheel
- Camber adjustability can be
either continuous or in 1 degree increments
- Camber adjustments should be
made by the user without tools while seated in the wheelchair
- The design should be lightweight
and simple
- The design should not require
drilling into the wheelchair or welding to the original frame
- The design must not increase the
zero camber wheelchair width
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Other: Users of Quickie
Model GPV wheelchairs can add washers to its wheel mounting system to
effectively change the camber. But this process cannot be accomplished while
the user is seated in the wheelchair.
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Fernanda's Wheelchair Work
Tray
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Background:
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Problem: Users of power
wheelchairs sit taller than able-bodied people in a standard chair. As a
consequence, they have difficulty approaching and using standard height work
surfaces such as tables, desks, and counters.
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Aim: Explore designs for a
wheelchair work tray useful for a variety of activities in a variety of
locations:
- using a laptop
computer
- writing
- preparing food in the
kitchen
- attending a lecture at
Stanford
- commuting on a bus or
train
- visiting a park
- relaxing at the pool
- enjoying coffee at a
cafe
- eating at a
restaurant
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Design Criteria:
- include organizational placement
for items such as writing instruments, cellphone, coffee cup
- dissipate heat generated by a
laptop
- portable / foldable to fit in a
tote bag
- prototype must reflect
Fernanda's personal aesthetic
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Magical Bridge Playground
Projects
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Background: The Magical
Bridge Playground is the nation's first fully accessible and socially inclusive
playground. It is a public space where children with disabilities as well as
children of parents who have a disability can play together. The City of Palo
Alto designated 1.3 acres of underutilized public land in Mitchell Park,
located at
600
East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto, for the site of the Magical Bridge
Playground - adjacent to Abilities United and close to the new Mitchell Park
Library.
-
The
playground
opened in April 2015 and has been overwhelmingly popular with both kids and
parents, with some families traveling long distances to experience
it.
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After the Playground was completed,
the Magical Bridge Foundation
was created to assist other communities in building their own innovative and
inclusive playgrounds. Construction on a Playground in Redwood City begain in
the Fall of 2017, and funds are currently being raised for Magical Bridge
Playgrounds in Sunnyvale and Morgan Hill.
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Problem: The park's play
equipment has been well-received, but some aspects of the play areas could be
modified for better access. In addition, suggestions for replacement play areas
are sought to update the park with fresh attractions every few years. And as
new Playgrounds are constructed, there will be ongoing opportunities to design
new features and refine existing designs to be accessible to everyone
regardless of their abilities.
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Aim: Explore designs to
improve access to and navigation around the playground, as well as to create
new play and educational experiences incorporating multiple senses, actions,
and outcomes for all playground users and visitors, especially those with
visual impairments and diminished fine motor skills.
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Design Criteria:
- Designs should be durable, fun,
and safe for everyone - accommodating children and parents with disabilities -
and be magical.
- Project prototypes could be
scale models to facilitate their construction and transportation.
- Designs that incorporate
electronics should be low-voltage or solar-powered.
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Other
Information:
- Nikki is a local high school
student who is visually impaired (VI). He has been prototyping and testing
playground features to improve VI accessibility for Magical Bridge Playgrounds
and will be available to provide information and feedback for VI-related
student projects.
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, depends on selected design
concept
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Links:
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At Home Door
Monitor
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Background: People who are
at high risk from certain medical conditions or are older adults living alone
would benefit from a monitoring system that understands when their home
activity is not normal (examples include having fallen, staying in bed sick, or
worsening medical condition) so a caregiver could be called to offer
assistance.
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Problem: While there are
many possible forms of remote monitoring, including video cameras, wearables,
Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS), scheduled phone calls, most older
adults don’t want to be constantly watched by a camera, forget to put on
or charge wearable devices, dislike PERS buttons because others consider
someone who wears one to be ‘old and sick’, and phone calls require
participation by another person.
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Aim: Explore solutions that
detect whether the monitored user is at home or not.
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Design Criteria:
- Detects when user has left or
arrives home (two separate events), uses LED indicators
- Does not require the user to
carry or wear a device
- Integrates into the home: small
visual footprint, battery-powered, minimum installation and removal effort and
impact
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Design Criteria for a Commercial
Product:
- Minimum power consumption: need
to be recharged infrequently or uses long-life batteries
- Implements a standard wireless
protocol like Z-Wave, LoRa, or BluetoothLE to communicate with an in-home
control unit and existing sensor network.
- Data transfer using cellular
3G
- Be affordable, around
$50
- Be physically small as to become
visually unobtrusive
- Be able to be installed by a
non-technical person such as a home healthcare aide
- Installation does not require
screws or nails, or cause damage to home
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Sensors, electronics, mechatronics
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Links:
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Elbow Lifter
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Background: Angie is an
undergraduate Stanford student studying English with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
(SMA) who uses a powered wheelchair to get around campus.
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Problem: Angie requires
assistance to move her arm from her wheelchair to the table before she is able
to feed herself independently.
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Aim: Explore device designs
that would enable Angie to feed herself completely
independently.
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Design Criteria:
- Angie must be able to initiate
operation of the device.
- Installation of the device must
not damage or deface her wheelchair.
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering
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Links:
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Creative Expression Project
for Danny
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Background: Danny has
cerebral palsy and a cortical vision impairment. He uses a manual wheelchair to
get around. Most everyone, including Danny, has a desire to be creative through
activities such as writing, painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, quilting,
photography, singing, dancing, and music.
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Problem: Existing tools
supporting creativity are often lacking for people with disabilities. Movement
difficulties and limitations in vision may prevent individuals like Danny from
fully participating in their chosen activity.
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Aim: Explore ways to enhance
creative expression for Danny. This could include the creation of new
activities or fabrication of new tools.
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Suggestions:
- Convert the user's existing
assistive technology device into a creative "paintbrush" or "musical
instrument"
- Use non-traditional inputs such
as residual movements or brain waves
- Adapt or create instruments for
musicians with disabilities
- One-Handed Musical
Instrument (OHMI) Competition
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Various, depends on chosen solution
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Links:
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New Project title
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Background:
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Problem:
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Aim:
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Design Criteria:
-
Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
-
Links:
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New Project title
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Background:
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Problem:
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Aim:
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Design Criteria:
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
-
Links:
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Get a Grip Project
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Background: A handbike is a
hand pedaled bicycle designed for people without the ability to pedal with
their legs. The Freedom Ryder is the first high performance hand-powered
bicycle. Users of this recreation and racing product have set distance, speed,
and time records. The model FRH-1Q350X optionally features a forearm actuated
brake or the James Watson Quadgrips, a "forearm actuated brake lever" that
operate without the need to grip or squeeze a control.
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Problem: Although some
veterans with spinal cord injuries may be able move their arms, they may not
have the ability to form a strong grip, preventing them from efficiently
"pedaling" their handbikes.
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Aim: Explore designs that
would enhance a handbike user's with quadriplegia ability to pedal the Freedom
Ryder.
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Design Criteria:
- the design could be a
replacement hand grip assembly or an accessory that fits over the current
handgrip
- no structural modifications to
the handbike
- no drilling into the
frame
- optionally fits multiple
handbike models
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Other:
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Recommended Skills:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Authoring Grade School
Lessons on Disability and/or Assistive Technology
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Background:
Nearpod is a company who works in the
educational sector. Their mobile learning platform helps teachers deliver
classroom instruction using iPads and other mobile devices. It combines
interactive presentation, collaboration, and real-time assessment tools into
one integrated solution.
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Problem: Although thousands
of lessons have been authored, teachers currently don't have access to engaging
and interactive lessons about Disability and/or Assistive
Technology.
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Aim: Author lesson modules
on Disability and/or Assistive Technology suitable for use in a grade school
classroom.
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Design Criteria:
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Education - This project is for students in the Learning, Design &
Technology (LDT) Program in the Graduate School of Education.
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Links:
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Creative
Expression
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Background: Most everyone
has a desire to be creative through activities such as writing, painting,
sculpture, pottery, jewelry, quilting, photography, singing, dancing, and
music.
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Problem: Existing tools
supporting creativity are often lacking for people with disabilities. Movement
difficulties may prevent an individual from fully participating in their chosen
activity.
-
Aim: Explore ways to enhance
creative expression for people with disabilities. This could include the
creation of new activities or fabrication of new tools.
-
Suggestions:
- Convert the user's existing
assistive technology device into a creative "paintbrush" or "musical
instrument"
- Use non-traditional inputs such
as residual movements or brain waves
- Adapt or create instruments for
musicians with disabilities
- One-Handed Musical
Instrument (OHMI) Competition
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Various, depends on chosen solution
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Links:
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Designing Your
Afterlife
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Background: Death is the
most severe form of disability as one is no longer able to interact with people
or physical objects in the living world. What remains are only frozen static
artifacts - images, writings, and the recollections of others. Gone are one's
personality, beliefs, expertise, humor, vision, memories, insights, and
intellect.
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Problem: With one's death,
it is impossible to provide a full and accurate representation of whom they
were, what they believed in, and how they acted. The recollections of family
and friends fade and disappear with time, leaving the departed one's legacy at
the mercy of the living.
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Aim: Explore ways to
preserve one's essence after death. In the technology extreme, this might
manifest itself as an interactive system that responds to queries, retells
stories, relates experiences, shares expertise, and expresses humor. The
pre-dead user would be able to create and program his / her eternal
computer-based persona before her / his demise.
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Various, depends on chosen solution
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Links:
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Student-defined Team
Projects
- Meet with course instructor to
discuss and agree upon the specifics of the project. Interview, observe, and
discuss assistive technology problems with an individual with a disability or
older adult. Address their desire to participate in one of the following
activities by designing an adaptation to an existing device / tool or creating
a new, more useful one. Projects could address:
-
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Activities of Daily Living -
cooking, showering or bathing, dressing, cleaning, housework, yard work,
employment, education, shopping, commuting, etc
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Sports and Exercise - walking,
running, indoor and outdoor sports, etc
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Leisure Activities and Hobbies
- collecting, model making, crafts, board games & videogames,
etc
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Other project
ideas
- Project Coach:
- David L. Jaffe, MS
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