<aside> ✅ Prototyping
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<aside> ✅ Microsoft Word
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<aside> ✅ Microsoft PowerPoint
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<aside> ✅ Canva
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<aside> ✅ Researching
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<aside> ✅ Time management
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<aside> ✅ Teamwork and Collaboration
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<aside> ✅ Problem-solving and Critical Thinking
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<aside> ✅ Creativity
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<aside> ✅ Oral and Written Communication
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<aside> ✅ Organization
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<aside> 💡 For this Design Project, we worked in a team of 5 to create a device that satisfies a need for a specific member of our community. We had the choice of deciding on a client to focus on, which included either Kevin (a stroke patient) or Nadina (a multiple sclerosis patient). My team decided to create a device that helped to improve Kevin’s gait as he walks since this was an issue that we noticed by observing him walk during the client interview.
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Design a portable device or system for Kevin, who is an individual that struggles to walk due to a stroke he experienced in 2017. The device should improve and/or support Kevin’s ability to walk and provide the lifestyle independence which he desires. Furthermore, the product should be simple and intuitive in terms of both design and setup to accommodate for the unique set of challenges associated with the Kevin’s condition.
Image outlining the two different types of strokes (source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/stroke1_med.jpeg).
Before generating ideas for a possible solution, we needed to choose a client that we wanted to focus on for our DP. After looking at the needs of both Kevin and Nadina, we chose to design a solution for Kevin since we had a wider range of ideas for this particular client.
Individually, we provided many different and unique ideas and translated them into concept sketches. Below I have included some preliminary sketches that I shared with my team.
This is the first idea that I had which involved a device connecting the right arm to the right foot. As the arm moves the device, this will simultaneously move the foot up and down as Kevin walks.
This is an iteration of the second idea which involves a crankshaft system that coverts the rotational motion of the wheel to linear motion of the pedal.
This is the second idea that I had where the rotational motion of the wheel guides the foot as the wheel rotates.
Updated and revised sketch of the second idea which involves a crankshaft system.
Our very first prototype was made of cardboard, duct tape and a meter stick. We transformed our concept sketch into an actual working low fidelity prototype to present during our design review.
Front view of our low fidelity prototype.
Side view of our low fidelity prototype.
Video of our low fidelity prototype in action.
Video of our low fidelity prototype in action.
During the design review, there were many concerns that were brought up that we had not yet considered. For instance, the long shaft that connects the crankshaft to the hip attachment would cause some interference as Kevin bends his leg. Also, another valid point that was brought up was regarding gait analysis.
<aside> ⚠️ Since our proposed solution aimed to help resolve Kevin’s gait, we needed some background knowledge on gait analysis. However, this was not a topic that was covered in any of our courses so we had limited knowledge on this particular topic, which was definitely challenging since our entire solution was based on it. We spoke a professor and we were reminded that this was a 6-week Design Project so it is unrealistic to fabricate an exoskeleton or a device that perfectly mimicked the human gait in the time that we were given. This brought up many questions and concerns which included:
Ultimately, we decided to address these potential issues in the Next Steps section of our final presentation since it was unrealistic to incorporate everything into our medium fidelity prototype in less than 6-weeks. Therefore, we believed it was best if we briefly talked about gait analysis and how we plan to use our proposed solution for gait recovery as well as making a portion of the long shaft bendable near the knee region.
Labelled diagram of the Kranker.
