Manual Wheelchair Design to Improve User Safety, Comfort and Aesthetics for the Aging Population

In the future, a quarter of the U.S. population will be comprised of people over the age of 65. The goal of this research was to design a manual wheelchair concept to help users live a more mobile and independent life with safety, comfort and modern aesthetics. Three design phases explored these attributes through sketching and 3D CAD iteration. The final design included a hub-less wheel system with integrated, grooved push-rims to reduce the risk of fingers getting caught in spokes and enable ease of motion. The chair also integrated a self-balancing gyroscopic sensor so the front caster wheels could be fully eliminated, to reduce the risk of tripping, while improving turn radius and mobility. The intent of this work was to start a conversation regarding ways industrial designers can improve manual wheelchairs for the growing aging demographic.