Setting the wheels in motion

Setting the wheels in motion

April 25, 2016

Share

[Whee-Bike team]
The Whee-Bike project team included Jane Shui, Com'16, Andrew Breslin, Sc'17, Bryce Lomfield, Sc'17, Thiago De Oliveira, Sc'17, Daniel Jones, Sc'17, Callum O'Shaughnessy, Sc'17, Hayden Provias, Sc'17, Jeremie Jollivet, Sci'17, and Korrah Bland, Sc'17, (back row, left to right); Sam Milner, Sc'17, Oda Al-anizi, Artsci'18 and Razvan Vulcu, Com'16. (University Communications)

Oda Al-anizi (Artsci鈥18) has dreamed for years of a better way to get around in his wheelchair. Public transportation has never really granted him the freedom he desires and a specialized motor vehicle is out of the question because of various obstacles, most notably cost.

[Whee-Bike]
An early prototype of the Whee-Bike (Supplied Photo)

As he saw more and more electric bikes and scooters on the road, Mr. Al-anizi wondered if a similar device for wheelchair users might be the answer. He envisioned driving his wheelchair onto a motorized vehicle that would help him get to his destinations more quickly and efficiently.

鈥淚 really believe there鈥檚 a spot in the market for a device like this,鈥 Mr. Al-anizi says. 鈥淔or people like me who want to go to work or go to school, it鈥檚 too complicated. My hope is that this device is considered an e-bike so you鈥檙e not going to need a driver鈥檚 licence or insurance and there will be no gas costs. It will be extremely cost effective.鈥

Mr. Al-anizi reached out to (QIC) in January 2015 to make that idea a reality. QIC connected the student with , a student group dedicated to using entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a more sustainable world.

Jane Shui (Com鈥16) and Razvan Vulcu (Com鈥16), co-chairs of Enactus Queen鈥檚, were supportive of Mr. Al-anizi鈥檚 vision. The co-chairs formed Whee-Bike along with Callum O鈥橲haughnessy (Sc鈥17) and Thiago De Oliveira (Sc鈥17). In addition to the executive, the project team boasts a team of dedicated electrical and mechanical engineering students. As the project has progressed, the team has consulted with occupational therapy and public policy students.

鈥淲orking with students from different faculties and disciplines has been a great learning opportunity,鈥 Ms. Shui says. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 get nearly enough chances in our programs to interact with people from different backgrounds.鈥

Over the past several months, the students have designed a vehicle that resembles a chariot. A person in a wheelchair would board the vehicle from the back using a ramp powered by Bluetooth technology. Once in, the wheelchair would be secured using Q鈥橲traint, a system developed by a team of students and specialists at Queen鈥檚 in the 1980s. The person would then operate the electric vehicle using hand controls.

As they developed the plans, the students consulted several faculty advisors including Dr. Ron Anderson, who researches vehicle dynamics, and Dr. Kevin Deluzio, who specializes in the biomechanics of human locomotion. The students have accessed 3D drawing software thanks to a sponsorship with Dassault Systemes and have also received financial support from QIC as part of  and mentorship from Executive Director Greg Bavington. The team will be participating in the QIC Summer Initiative Bootcamp beginning next week as part of its QyourVenture training.

The variety of resources has given the students the support they need to apply what they have learned in the classroom over the past several years.

鈥淔or a lot of the engineering students working on this project, this is our first step outside of academia,鈥 Mr. De Oliveira says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time where we鈥檙e not talking about grades, but something that鈥檚 real and going to help people. That鈥檚 amazing and great.鈥

The project received positive feedback during a recent Enactus regional exposition held in Mississauga. The team won an impact award and $500 during the Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge, a competition that sees students develop and deliver projects that address the needs and opportunities facing youth, as it relates to education, learning skills and lifelong success.

鈥淭he award signals that the judges felt the project has the potential to have a significant impact on Oda and other youth,鈥 Mr. Vulcu says. 鈥淛ust as importantly, we received good feedback from the judges on various aspects of the project and how to polish our presentation.鈥

Over the summer, the students intend to assemble the prototype. They are also working on meeting the regulatory requirements set out in Ontario legislation and developing a marketing strategy.

If you are interested in learning more about the Whee-Bike Project, please email Mr. De Oliveira.

Smith Business
Smith Engineering