Collapsible Gen2 Wheelchair

Saturday, October 29, 2011
Hall 1-2 (San Jose Convention Center)
Martin Tajiboy , University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
John Garman , University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Kenneth Mease , Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
The Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the free distribution of low-cost wheelchairs for the developing world. The current wheelchair design is a static structure, making it difficult to transfer or moved through doorways. This research will present the process and testing of a collapsible wheelchair design to address the issue. The manufacturing cost and total weight of the current prototype cannot rise from the current set value.  We will also present the results of standard testing methods (ISO) and Whirlwind Wheelchair International, which will examine the fatigue, strength and stability of the new design.