All-Terrain Walker
Team Members
Problem Statement
The objectives of the All-Terrain Walker project are to design, prototype, and manufacture a walking aide that will provide Connor a more stable and versatile means to traverse through the environments he and his family enjoy most.
Project Summary
A local family recently approached Dr. Bloswick (project advisor) with an engineering problem. This family enjoys the outdoor life provided by the Utah wilderness. The family’s eldest son, Connor, an energetic 8 year old boy suffers from cerebral palsy. This disease limits his ability to control the muscles in his extremities ultimately hindering his full range of motion and equilibrium. Under normal everyday conditions Connor is capable of maneuvering over flat terrain with limited aid. Like most boys his age Connor enjoys the outdoors but finds it difficult to traverse over small rocks and loose dirt. Currently Connor enlists the aid of walking implements designed to aid an individual on flat terrain in his outdoor adventures. These “walkers” are not designed to tackle the obstacles presented in the mildest of outdoor activities. Connor’s family has requested that the design team develop an all-terrain walker as an alternative to similar products on the market.
Under the direction of Dr. Bloswick the team will design, test and manufacture an alternative-walking device to help Connor overcome the obstacles of the lifestyle he and his family enjoy. As part of the design stage the team will work with Connor to define a “customer needs” list and outline the pertinent design specifications. Upon completion of the initial design the project team intends to fabricate a fully functional prototype to be tested, critiqued and refined with input from Connor and his family. Any and all required changes or modifications will be documented and implemented in the final product.
The proposed project will expose each team member to the steps of the design cycle such as defining customer needs, product research and material selection. Ultimately the proposed project will prepare each student to function as part of a design team in industry and more importantly provide a better quality of life for Connor and his family.