A set of student capstone projects demonstrating assistive technology from the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Detroit Mercy were on display inside the museum. Dr. Darrell Kleinke said that the projects came from students working with disabled clients and developing custom solutions for them. One wheelchair modification was designed for a man who liked his manual wheelchair but struggled around the house to carry loads, such as a basket of laundry. The solution was a motorized cargo trailer that can be remotely operated. LJ, a grad student in the program, showed a baby stroller for a woman who lacked the upper body strength to push the stroller. The somewhat lo-tech solution was a magnetic belt for the woman that was strong enough to push the stroller forward.
Dr. Kleinke said that the biggest challenge students face is figuring out if there is a commercial opportunity to further develop the projects for additional clients.
University of Detroit Mercy is a first-time participant in Maker Faire Detroit.
Those students/professors might check out a recently announced National Science Foundation program—especially the last line of the synopsis, it sounds like it was designed for this team.
Program Number: 23355
Title: General & Age-Related Disabilities Engineering (GARDE)
Sponsor: Directorate for Engineering/NSF
SYNOPSIS: The General & Age Related Disabilities Engineering
(GARDE) program supports research that will lead to the development of
new technologies, devices, or software for persons with disabilities.
Research may be supported that is directed to the characterization,
restoration, and/or substitution of human functional ability or
cognition, or to the interaction of persons with disabilities and
their environment. Areas of particular recent interest are
disability-related research in neuroscience/neuroengineering and
rehabilitation robotics. Emphasis is placed on significant
advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge and
not on incremental improvements. Proposals should advance discovery
or innovation beyond the frontiers of current knowledge in
disability-related research. Applicants are encouraged to contact the
Program Director prior to submitting a proposal. Undergraduate
Engineering Design Projects are also supported, especially those that
provide prototype “custom-designed” devices or software for persons
with disabilities.
Deadline(s): 09/18/2012
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=yMw8QQZQfMzwT1NLJKVDnn41HL8WYCTDJ1wyVd2FWnLMkZv6Y8jN!290104779?oppId=183534&mode=VIEW