Course content on design, CAD modeling, linkage synthesis, and creating proper engineering drawings is the focus for this project. In terms of design, a logical starting point would be to define the design problem from your own perspective. What type of spaces/environments will your device operate? What age, size, and weight person would your device accommodate? What are the features, key geometries, and requirements of existing wheelchair designs? What surfaces would your device navigate? What spaces and objects would your device provide access to? Based on your custom-crafted problem statement, perform focused background research on possible existing design solutions. In thinking about your own new design, develop a list of specifications (i.e., metrics along with marginal and target values, with units as appropriate). For example, think about defining the basic range of motion, speed of operation, stability needs, etc.

Your next design activity could be to brainstorm many possible ideas. As with the first project, create clearly labeled hand sketches of at least the 5 best options (no CAD modeling necessary at this stage). Because the project focus is on linkage synthesize, ignore concerns about controls, buttons, motors, bearings, material choices, forces, etc. Focus on developing the structural aspects - the basic frame, wheels, and linkages. A decision matrix can be very useful to help down-select from your 5+ options. You can create a matrix to help select from the overall concepts or to help decide between certain sub-elements. For example, maybe you have a basic seat design in several brainstormed ideas, but the method by which the human changes to a more upright configuration might be different. You could develop a decision matrix to decide between alternative methods.

When you've decided on your best options for your design, develop good SolidWorks models. Ideally, a full assembly that can be manipulated manually or animated to demonstrate functional is the goal. It is required that you at least have a good linkage synthesis that can be animated to help perform an analysis and demonstrate functionality. One highly descriptive movie file will be required to be submitted. You should also perform a basic kinematic analysis of the linkage system to demonstrate graphically (with traces and/or labeled graphs) its operating envelope (position) and how quickly (velocity) the person is positioned from one configuration to the next. Report on the accelerations that would be experienced, focusing on peak accelerations.