Technology Innovations for Persons with Disabilities (TIPeD)
TIPeD is a project-driven, team-based experiential learning program funded by National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Alliance (NCIIA) to support undergraduate students’ learning of entrepreneurship and innovation of technology for people with disabilities. Teams consist of students from the engineering, business and clinical disciplines and either a faculty or graduate student mentor. Teams spend ten weeks working on a technology innovation project in the area of the mentor’s interest, and are required to make substantial progress on the technology design, and generate a business and commercialization plan in the format of a SBIR proposal to develop start-ups to commercialize the products. Through involvement in these projects and lectures, students learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship including design processes, intellectual property considerations, and business plans. Interested students should contact Mary Goldberg at mrh35@pitt.edu for more information.
National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Alliance webpage
2011 TIPeD Project Summaries
Bus Buddy
To get around in the community, an increasing number of wheelchair and scooter-seated individuals use public transportation. When traveling by bus, wheelchairs and scooters are at an increased risk of tipping over or sliding, and wheelchair/scooter-seated passengers may fall from their wheelchair or scooter onto the vehicle floor during a sudden bus turn or stop. Commonly installed strap-type tiedowns are cumbersome, time consuming, infringe upon personal space of wheelchair users and require bus operator involvement for their use. The Bus Buddy was designed for wheelchairs and scooters or other wheeled mobility devices that are being transported on public buses. The system is used in a forward facing direction. Wheelchair and scooter users traveling in public buses can use the system independently by simply driving into it until their wheelchair structure hits the front padded barrier. This forward barrier prevents wheelchairs from rolling/sliding forward and will also minimize forward sliding and falling of wheelchair/scooter-seated individuals in the event of a sudden vehicle stop. A lateral barrier prevents wheelchairs/scooters from sideways tipping or sliding into the isle during a sharp vehicle turn. An (optional) occupant bar pivots down onto the wheelchair users lap to prevent the occupant from sliding forward during a sudden stop of the vehicle. Check out the spin out company, Linc Design!
Low Cost, Basic Custom-fit Footwear Designed for the “Bottom Billion”
In the face of advanced medical breakthroughs and emerging novel medical technologies, the incidence and prevalence of neglected tropical diseases sadly remains on the rise. Worldwide, diabetes, buruli ulcer, and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) are two of the leading causes of disability. Together they affect over 500 million persons, mostly from the “bottom billon,” or those from the poorest population of the poorest counties and with the least amount of purchasing power [2- website]. These diseases primarily affect the lower limb and could be eradicated if time and resources appropriately managed. Currently there are vertical programs for managing each disease at both national and international levels. Although diagnostic tools effective medicines and technical protocols exist for each disease, efficiency and effectiveness of treating diseases in these areas could be drastically improved with an integrated approach. Fortunately, there is evidence from both high and low-resource countries that many of these problems can be managed effectively at low cost through the implementation of comprehensive foot and lower limb care programs including low cost customizable footwear. This project is derived from a greater effort, Legs to Stand On. To find out more, visit the site! Student Melvin McElrath has continued to work on the project and was featured in his university’s newsletter for these efforts.
Powered Mobility Controller Platform
The powered mobility device controller platform includes a single board computer, encoders to measure driving wheels’ speed and caster wheels’ speed, gyro sensor to measure orientation, and rich interface for different control and communication devices. The system is designed for research, education and clinical use and has been validated and evaluated by several projects and end users. With this more sophisticated controller, the electrical powered wheelchair will be able to be used by the 40% who are currently denied the devices. This product will fill the needs for power mobility device users who are not able to operate the current devices, or in need of a system with track control and robust speed control, the needs of a platform for researchers and students interested in working on assistive technologies, and the needs of clinicians to evaluate and train the users.
