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A motorized tricycle for a three year old boy with Cerebral Palsy, which has caused lower body mobility issues.
Our group met with the parents of Ethan Campbell on September 15th to introduce ourselves and begin gathering the information we would need to build him a motorized tricycle. Ethan is just shy of three (3) years old and is very small for his age. Ethan has Cerebral Palsy (CP), a disease which causes physical disability in the various areas of body movement. In Ethan’s case, his brain does not properly communicate with his legs. This is why he requires a motorized tricycle.
The trike needs to able to accomplish a number of criteria to fit Ethan’s needs.
The trike needs to be able to navigate through multiple terrains such as gravel, dirt, asphalt, etc.
Second, it has to be motorized with a dc motor.
Third, it effectively needs to support his body including leg and torsal.
Last, it needs to be safe and enjoyable for Ethan.
List of Specifications:
Our first design utilizes a friction drive motor, similar to that of an electrically powered scooter. The motor will turn the small motor wheel drive that is against a wheel of the tricycle, creating a simple friction drive transmission system.
For our second design we have a trike with a chain-to-gear drive system which will rotate the rear axle. It is driven by a DC motor with a 24 Volt power source.
Our third design features a DC motor, powered by a twelve volt battery, which transmits power via a chain and taper-lock sprockets. The trike is rear-wheel driven, and the shaft sits in kegged slots.
| CONCEPTS | DESIGN 1 | DESIGN 2 | DESIGN 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRATICAL | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| MOBILITY | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| WEIGHT | 4 | 2 | 3 | |
| CONSTRUTION | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| APPEAL | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| DURABILITY | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| COST | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
| TOTAL 35 POSSIBLE POINTS | 27 | 21 | 25 |
After thorough consideration, and contact with the family, it was decided that the original tricycle design for Ethan was not exactly what the family wanted. There were plenty of safety issues as well as operability issues in the tricycle design due to Ethan’s size, age, and limited mobility. Our group concluded that we need a more stable vehicle, which would still fit the specifications needed. With this in mind, modifying a Power Wheels Ford F-150 became our most viable option. The size and stability of a four wheeled vehicle is a drastic improvement over the three-wheeled design. Even at Ethan’s age, he will be able to operate the Power Wheels model upon delivery. Modifying an existing design also increases the overall feasibility of our project, and will help to ensure prompt delivery with a much lower risk for production error. It is our intent to show, through the following analyses, the stability, and feasibility of our new design.
The purpose of this analysis is to demonstrate that the torque generated by the Power Wheels will be enough to allow navigation of common slopes and inclines encountered in its operation. The plot of slope angle versus necessary torque shows that the Power Wheels will be able to successfully climb slopes featuring, up to and including, a forty degree angle. In its intended area of operation we do not expect the Power Wheels to come across slopes of more than thirty degrees. Thus we have shown that the Power Wheels will be capable of successfully negotiating all the inclines it is likely to encounter in its everyday use.
The following analysis is to determine the maximum, minimum, and probable turning radii of the Power Wheels; this is done for the purpose of later calculating tipping velocities. The afore mentioned turning radii have been mathematically established according to the following calculations.
Our final analysis is to determine the velocities necessary to cause tipping of this product. The necessary equations have been established according to the principles of dynamics, and the radii used in this calculation are obtained from the preceding analysis. These equations have subsequently been entered into a Matlab program to determine the velocities required to achieve tipping. This program has shown that, even for our minimum calculated turning radius, the velocity needed to tip is well outside the range of this Power Wheels, whose maximum velocity is listed as five miles per hour.
We have demonstrated, with all necessary discipline and rigor, the practicality, safety, feasibility of our design. It will be able to conquer the terrain of the expected working environment, and will do so in such a fashion as to maintain the safety of its occupant. With our modifications, we will be able to deliver, in a timely manner, a safe and reliable product to the family. This product will either meet, or exceed all requirements, and it is our hope that it will improve the quality of life of the child, for whom, we are building it.