This past Wednesday we had our 4th design build. In this build we accomplished many goals, including installing the kickboard seats. To do this, we measured placements for cutouts in the styrofoam in which the PVC connectors can be placed in a male-female connector fashion. The circular cutouts in the styrofoam were cut using a box cutter at a slightly smaller diameter of the PVC connector such that the seat can have a tight, secure, and safe fit. The kickboard was installed and showed to be very sturdy, necessary for the safety of our design. A speed controller was also installed successfully. (photos attached)

For our next build, we need to finalize the back rest and finish the wire connections between the button and motor such that the car’s acceleration can be achieved via the button on the steering wheel. We have collectively decided that initial plans to install a tray and an external battery charging port will not be necessary for the success of the design.

Additionally, we had originally planned to collaborate with Alyssa Harding, a Belmont School of Occupational Therapy Graduate student, who is researching these devices for her graduate project. She intended to collect data on the vehicle after implementation in to the Susan Gray school, however, due to IRB approval delay and thus delayed progression of her project, she had to withdraw in order to pursue a different project to fulfill her semester requirements. We still plan on giving the finished product to the Susan Gray School and receiving feedback from the therapists and students. Although, we will not be able to receive the quantitate data Alyssa’s research could have provided, we will have substantial qualitative feedback on the design for future direction and modification improvements.

In addition to finalizing the design and implementing it into the Susan Gray School, we also are beginning to put together our poster for design day. The poster will lay out our research model and design progression, including background, needs assessment, methods, results, conclusions, and figures.