Student research opportunities

Manufacturing of Manual Wheelchair Wheel Cleats

Project Code: CECS_1127

This project is available at the following levels:
Engn4200, Engn R&D
Please note that this project is only for undergraduate students.

Keywords:

Assistive Technology, Manufacturing, Wheelchair

Supervisor:

Mr Jeremy Smith

Outline:

Often a wheelchair user will need to have more than one wheelchair and/or different components such as sets of wheels to tackle different terrains. This creates inconveniences for travelling especially when undertaking independent travel. A previous project has designed prototype cleats that can attach to a wheelchair wheel to provide additional capability when off-road or on non-paved surfaces.

This project will extend the previous work to look at manufacturing options for the cleats and explore further design factors around cost, operation and end-of-life.

Factors that will need to examined and incorporated include:
- ease of attaching and removing cleats
- adaptability for different wheelchair wheels
- size and weight of cleats when not in use
- appropriate manufacturing method to make the cleats in bulk
- material and manufacturing costs of the cleats
- repair, maintenance and end-of-life

Goals of this project

An improved design for wheelchairs including potential manufacturing process for all components.

Requirements/Prerequisites

Engn3212

Contact: