Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2015
Primary Advisor
Peter Schuster
Abstract/Summary
Nathan Cooper is a local boy with spinal muscular atrophy. He enjoys playing games and being active. One assistive device that Nathan uses is his Standing Dani, a motorized mobile stander. Nathan enjoys playing golf and kickball, and prior to this project he had no way of playing golf and no safe way of playing kickball. The purpose of this project was to design and build a golf attachment for Nathan’s Standing Dani that allows him to putt, and a kickball attachment that allows him to play kickball safely. First, the design team researched and defined the problem in terms of design specifications. Then, the team brainstormed a number of possible solutions. Decision matrices were used to narrow down the possible solutions to one best concept. Analysis and preliminary testing was then used to turn the top concept into a detailed design. Next, a prototype was constructed to put the design into action. Finally, the prototype was tested on a test frame and then with Nathan on the Standing Dani. The final golf putter attachment consists of a hockey blade that is used to putt the golf ball. The hockey blade is rigidly attached to the front of the Standing Dani with a shaft and brackets, and is driven to hit the ball by operating the Standing Dani like normal. The final kickball attachment consists of plastic guards that protect the Standing Dani from balls that may roll under it and tip it over. Both attachments work as intended and Nathan enjoys using them.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/273