TIPeD Projects of Prior Years

CUEING HANDLE | ACTIVE ANTI-TIP SYSTEM | NAVISECTION | BUS BUDDY | LOW COST FOOTWEAR | POWERED MOBILITY CONTROLLER PLATFORM

Cueing Handle

The product is a wirelessly controlled and battery operated illuminating grab-handle indented to cue individuals for task related operations. It consists of a clear FDA compliant acrylic grab handle on the front and a small plastic case on the back. The case contains a circuit board and battery which receives commands from a wireless signal to activate two LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) imbedded in the ends of handle. Additionally, each handle can transmit the open or closed status upon change and relay its remaining battery life back to the user or master controller.
Visual cueing can improve execution and initiation of multi-step tasks. This would help populations of individuals with cognitive disabilities such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Alzheimer’s disease, or Dementia, who have problems with executive function. Additionally, this device could help maintain organization to improve productivity and lower downtime in environments such as kitchens, office supply rooms, warehouses, or manufacturing floors. By providing visual cuing and real-time feedback through the use of a wirelessly controlled illuminating grab handle, the user can complete repetitive, sequential, or organizational tasks successfully and independently. This product would result in reduced human error, reduced cognitive load, reduced caregiver dependence, increased productivity, and increased organization.

Active Anti-tip System

We are developing a system that will be able to help stabilize a manual wheelchair. Most current anti-tip devices are taken off by the users because they resrict some safe maneuvers like going up hills and going over curbs. Our active anti-tip system will be out of the way until a risky situation is detected and will then engage a device that will stabilize the wheelchair. This continues to allow the user the ability to perform safe maneuvers making the wheelchair safer during risky situations.

Navisection

The core intent of Navisection is to improve relationships between the evaluator and driver with more transparent assessment criteria by the impartial observation of an intelligent vehicle. Navisection is a process to enhance supervised evaluations of an individual’s driving capability. Specifically, Navisection applies the collection of naturalistic driving data to generate supporting evidence of driver capability (or the lack thereof). The driving data is then also available for context-based driver education in review of a driving session under evaluation. For any scenario with supervised monitoring of driving, Navisection uses activity monitoring of the observer to document instances where driving assistance is provided to avoid the risk of a crash. Plus, the process allows simple event flagging (time stamping) where unsafe or illegal driving maneuvers are witnessed. Within the field of driver rehabilitation, Navisection correlates sensor data patterns with the expert observations of a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, thus creating a standard of evidence-based practice for assessing driver capability. The device would be used in driver rehabilitation programs, by Department of Motor Vehicles, driving schools, and home training (e.g. family and friends discussing driving skills and safety for an older loved one).

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. 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. 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.

Education > Undergraduates > TIPeD > Prior Years