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Candidate
Team Projects - 2025
General Team Project
Information
- Team Projects are for suitable for
three students taking the course for three credit units.
- These projects will be "pitched" in
class on Thursday, January 9th.
- Project suggestor email addresses
will be communicated to the student project team who chooses the
project.
- "Recommended Skillset" is dependent
on the selected design concept.
Index of Project Titles
(year originally suggested)
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 Projects with Abby
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2025 Biosketch: Abby
is an artist, a retired art teacher (grades K-College), a clinical social
worker, and a computer graphic designer. She is an individual with mobility
challenges 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 the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI) in Santa Clara County and has volunteered in their
Connection
Recovery Support Group and the
Peer
PAL Program. She has 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, the California Council of the Blind’s
Annual Convention, Cal Poly Tech Women
in Business, Defining Her Future
2021 panel on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Abby has mentored
elementary school students with art lessons and partnered with high school
students in programs for Project
Invent. She has consulted with 7th and 8th grade students on designing for
accessibility and accessible obstacle courses. She has been interviewed for a
podcast
by Project Invent. Abby invented a board game for inpatient psychiatric
units. She has a successor service dog, Nathan, from
Canine Partners for Life (CPL) in
Cochranville, PA, and has presented
Service Dog
Demonstrations at Abilities Expo in 2018 and 2019. Abby has supported
products that increase functionality for individuals with disabilities. She has
recently completed a graduate program at California State University Northridge (CSUN)
studying Assistive
Technology Studies and Human Services. Abby presented at CSUN’s
38th and 39th Assistive Technology Conferences in 2023
and 2024 on How to Teach Compassion with Assistive Technology and The
Importance of the User in the AT Design Equation. Abby joined the faculty
of the Assistive Technology Engineering graduate program at CSUN and taught
courses in Current and Emerging Topics in Assistive Technology and
Product Design and Development in Assistive Technology.
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Enhanced Visibility Project
for Abby's Wheelchair
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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
wheelchair has limited front & side ighting 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.
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Design
Criteria:
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Other:
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Links:
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering
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Rain Shield
Project
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Background: Abby
is an older adult who relies on a powered wheelchair for her mobility and her
service dog, Nathan, to help her with daily tasks.
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Problem:
Wheelchair users and their mobility devices must be protected from the rain as
being wet is uncomfortable and water can damage electronics.
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Aim: Explore
designs for a suitable covering (a garment or wheelchair / scooter accessory)
to protect Abby and her mobility device.
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Design
Criteria:
- Suitable for use
with Abby's scooter and Whill
- Aesthetic
design
- Collapsible and
stowable
- Easy to put on and
remove and/or easy to deploy and retract
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Search Link:
"rain protection for wheelchair user"
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Universal Water Bottle and
Phone Holder
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Background: Abby
uses four different mobility devices on different occassions: 2 Whill
wheelchairs, a motorized TravelScoot scooter, and a manual
wheelchair.
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Problem: Abby
could benefit from a conveniently located water bottle and phone holder on her
mobility devices. Currently she has to dig through storage bags that she
carries on the side or the back.
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Aim: Explore
designs for a water bottle and phone holder that she can easily
access.
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Design
Criteria:
- The solution must
not interfere with the operation of her mobility devices
- The solution must be
able to be easily moved and installed on any of her devices
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Link:
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Laptop Storage
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Background:
Wheelchair users, like Abby, require storage space for many large and small
accessories such as a coat, laptop, keys, cellphone, water bottle, as well as
items for their service dogs including treats, food, blanket, leash, water
bowl, etc.
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Problem: Current
storage solutions for larger items, especially for laptop computers, are
typically backpacks attached behind the wheelchair seat, which makes retrieving
them challenging.
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Aim: Explore
alternative storage solutions for Abby's Mac laptop which don't rely on a
backpack attached behind her wheelchair seat.
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Design
Criteria:
- Device provides
secure storage
- Laptop is easy to
stow and retrieve
- Space to store small
computer accessories (mouse, cables, disc drive, USB C hub
multiport)
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Links:
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Laptray Artwork
Easel
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Background: Abby
is an older adult who relies on a powered wheelchair for her mobility and her
service dog, Nathan, to help her with daily tasks.
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Problem: Abby
has been an artist for many years, enjoying drawing and watercolor painting.
However when she is creating art in the community - for example at Palo Alto's
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden - she
requires a drawing surface attached to her wheelchair.
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Aim: Explore
designs for a wheelchair-mounted easel.
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Design
Criteria:
- The easel must be
adjustable for flexibility
- The easel must
accommodate art accessories such as brushes
- The easel must be
able to be stored in the backpack on Abby's wheelchair
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Links:
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Projects with Olenka at the Magical Bridge Playground
Accessible and Inclusive Playground Attractions
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Background: The
Magical Bridge Playground is
recognized as the nation's most innovative accessible and socially inclusive
playground. It is designed to delight the many people who make up our
community, including the 1 in 4 living with a visible or invisible disability
who are typically overlooked in the creation of public playgrounds. It is a
multigenerational play space with areas for respite, along with thoughtful
programs which include
Kindness
Ambassadors. The original playground was spearheaded by Palo Alto citizen
volunteer and former tech executive, Olenka (Villarreal). Along with dozens of
volunteers and 0.8 acres of underutilized public land in Mitchell Park, she was
determined to create the most magical playground to bridge the gap between
those with and without disabilities in such a seamless way that everyone would
love it. Located at
600
East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto, the volunteers raised $4.2M in private
funds to showcase how a truly inclusive playground creates a welcoming spirit
for a community. Magical Bridge Playground is adjacent to
AbilityPath and close to
Ada's Cafe and the
Mitchell Park
Library.
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The
playground
opened in April 2015 and enjoys an average of 25,000 visitors a month. Many
are local families, while others come from long distances.
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After this playground
was completed, Magical Bridge
Foundation was formed in 2016 with a mission to advocate for more inclusive
play spaces and programs that consider the needs of all ages and all abilities.
The foundation now has 12 new destination playgrounds under construction, and
is also developing an exciting plan for elementary school playgrounds to put
more magic into recess! Besides Palo Alto, Redwood City, Addison Elementary
School and CuriOdyssey Museum and Zoo are
now proud to have a Magical Bridge of their own. International sites are also
underway.
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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 innovative
installations every few years. And as new Playgrounds are planned and
constructed, there are 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 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 for all ages and all abilities.
- Project prototypes
could be scale models to facilitate their construction and
transportation.
- Designs that
incorporate electronics should be low-voltage or solar-powered.
- Consider designs for
kids and older adults.
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Suggestion: Employ
actuators (levers, pulleys, buttons, etc) to activate sound, music, motion,
lights.
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics (depends on selected design
concept)
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Magical Bridge
Playground Links:
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Links to Project
Ideas:
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Project with Gary
Swimming with a Prosthetic Device
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Background: Lower
limb prostheses (artificial limbs) are often made of a variety of materials.
These materials must be strong enough for daily high level activities and must
last for 3 to 5 years. Steel, aluminum, and titanium are the primary component
materials due to their strength and weight. However the bolts that hold these
together are often steel due to their strength and fatigue properties. Further,
water and dirt ingress are often a problem when using these components in the
water or wet / dirty / sandy environments. This is a particular issue with
children and is exacerbated by salt water.
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Problem: People
who live near the ocean like to walk on the beach and go in the water but their
prosthesis is often damaged over time due to water, salt, sand, and
dirt.
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Aim: Explore
solutions that would permit an individual to swim and go on the beach without
damaging his / her prosthetic device.
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Design
Criteria:
- Consider materials,
either removable or permanent, or processes that would protect the device from
damage from water, salt, sand, and dirt.
- The solution must not
affect the device's function or comfort.
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Suggestions:
Consider coatings or coverings or partial component material changes as well as
techniques or processes that protect the device from the effects of water,
salt, sand, and dirt.
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop, depends on selected design
concept
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Link:
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Projects with Danny
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Background: Danny is a
wheelchair user from Los Gatos with cerebral palsy. He experiences limited
upper body strength, grip & vision impairments, and diminished hand &
finger dexterity.
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Poop Management for Danny's Service Dog Korey
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Problem:
Wheelchair users who walk their dogs need to clean up after them. Danny's
limited hand / arm strength and reduced mobility affects his ability to
successfully perform both the collection and bagging portions of this
task.
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Aim: Explore
designs for a poop management system for Danny's service dog
Korey.
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Design
Criteria:
- Consider sanitation
and odor issues
- Easy for Danny to
use
- Simple in design,
low-cost, lightweight, able to store on his wheelchair
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
- Search for "poop
management for service dogs"
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Treats for Korey
- Background:
Danny benefits from the help of his service dog, Korey.
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Problem: Danny
would like to routinely reward Korey for his service with small food treats.
However, finding, retrieving, and opening a treat bag and selecting one treat
item can be a struggle for him as the bag may be stored inside a backpack
behind his wheelchair seat and fine hand dexterity is required to open the
treat bag and pull out a small treat.
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Aim: Explore
solutions that would enable Danny to independently reward Korey.
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Design
Criteria:
- Consider alternative
treat delivery mechanisms.
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Water Bottle Opener for Daniel
- Background:
Daniel is a wheelchair user from Los Gatos with cerebral palsy. He experiences
limited upper body strength, grip & vision impairments, and diminished hand
& finger dexterity
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Problem:
Stanford, Daniel's brother says, "Existing electric bottle openers on the
market require dexterity, visual acuity, and the function of two hands. Many
times Danny has simply tried to bite off the cap of a plastic water bottle to
drink water independently. I usually lovingly admonish such actions, suggesting
it is better for his teeth if he asks for assistance."
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Aim: Explore
designs that would enable Daniel to independently open a water
bottle.
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Design
Criteria:
- The device could
fitted to Daniel's wheelchair or reside in the kitchen.
- The wheelchair
solution should be self-powered.
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Obstacle Detector
- Background:
Danny relies on his
Permobil
M3 Corpus Power Wheelchair for independent mobility.
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Problem: Danny
uses a powered wheelchair to get around independently. His vision impairment
makes it challenging for him to identify upcoming curbs and locate the curbcut,
especially at night in dark communities, like on the campus of Stanford
University. In addition, he often can not detect obstacles in his path and side
drop-offs.
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Aim: Explore
designs to detect obstacles and alert Danny.
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Design
Criteria:
- The device must be
easy to attach to his powered wheelchair.
- The device must be
powered by an internal battery.
- The device must be
reconfiguable for obstacles, curbs, and drop-offs.
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Recommended
Skillset: Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Links:
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Projects Suggested by Dave:
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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 stories of others.
Gone are one's personality, beliefs, expertise, humor, vision, memories,
insights, and intellect.
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Problem: With
one's passing, 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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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.
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Aim: Explore
ways to enhance creative expression for people with disabilities. 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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Student-defined
Projects
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- Meet with the 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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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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Links:
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