Project Statement Go Kart for Nathan Lamb TEAM 9 Cameron Fulton Solomiya Teterichko Robert Amatuli Client Contact: Janice M. Lamb 142 Barnes Road Stonington, CT Phone: (860)-460-1394 Fax: (860)-245-5699 Email: Janice.lamb@linde.com
STATEMENT OF NEED For many children, physical disabilities and cognitive impairment are often great barriers in the participation of outdoor activities. Consequently children with disabilities can experience seclusion, which can lead to difficulties in developing social relations with other children and enjoying recreational activities with family members. There is a great need for custom made machines that are able to make outdoor exploration available to children with disabilities. For this reason, Nathan Lamb, an autistic eleven-year-old male with cognitive challenges, has the need for a battery-operated go-kart that is able to hold him and a parent. The go-kart should withstand versatile terrain and can be controlled with a one-handed joystick and a remote control by both the driver and the passenger. Due to Nathan s physical constraints, the driver joystick should control the acceleration, deceleration and steering of the go-kart. Due to spontaneous head movements and a weak trunk, a five-point harness system is essential for the support and safety of Nathan. The passenger and driver seats should have adjustable supports to accompany Nathan s physical changes as well as allow a wide size range of passengers. Nathan currently attends Mystic Middle School and has made great strides last year. His physical therapist and parents agree that providing opportunities where Nathan is more mobile and therefore independent would keep his progress moving forward. Nathan loves the excitement of moving fast and yearns for that adrenaline rush. This go-kart would allow Nathan to experience a greater sense of freedom and independence as well as allow him to spend more time outdoors and socialize with his peers. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Nathan has Spina Bifida, cognitive challenges, and is on the autism spectrum. He also has a shunt in his brain for drainage of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is developing sclerosis. The client, Janice Lamb, and her family have 16 acres of relatively flat land and hope to safely enjoy their outdoor property with Nathan as well as provide him with more independence. Nathan does not currently use an electric wheelchair which constraints him from many outdoor activities. This also limits his social and academic activities with fellow peers. He has made great strides in Mystic Middle School in the past year and improvement in his social activities and mobility shows promise in moving his progress forward.
The client s land, where the go-kart will be used, is flat but has no marked trails. Therefore the machine should consist of all-terrain tires and good suspension to support rocky and grassy terrain as well as shock absorbent bumpers of each side. For safety and social purposes, the go-kart will seat the driver and a passenger. The driver seat will consist of a five-point harness system and adjustable head, arm and back support. The driver seat will also possess a joystick on the left hand side which will control the acceleration, deceleration and steering of the go-kart. The passenger seat will also have driving control via a kill switch. There will be an addition kill switch remote that will control the go-kart. There is no weight constraint for the client and will fit through a 6 foot wide trailer ramp for transportation. After safety, the clients main concern is the speed of the go-kart. Nathan, who loves the adrenaline rush, hopes to be able to accelerate to high speeds with the go-kart. Because the go-kart will seat two people and possess great safety measures, the weight will be a great limitation. The material used for the frame will have to be strong but light. The client also wishes to have accessories such as an ipod dock and headlights. REALISTIC CONSTRAINTS Health and Safety: The greatest constraint for this project is Nathans physical limitations. Nathan has Spina Bifida, cognitive challenges and is on the autism spectrum. He also has a shunt in his brain to drain extra cerebrospinal fluid and is developing sclerosis. He can only use his left arm, often moves his head and places his right hand to his head. Nathan is used to the sitting position and uses a car seat for support. However his trunk strength is poor and sits with his pelvis thrust slightly forward. These physical limitations lead to extra precautions that must be taken to insure Nathan s safety and well-being. The go-kart will be equipped with a kill-switch control on the passenger seat, an additional remote control, and a five-point harness system along with head, spine, leg and arm supports. A steel roll cage will also be incorporated in the design for further safety measures. Extra safety precautions increase the cost and weight of the go-kart and therefore accessories and speed may be compromised. The terrain the go-kart is going to be used on is also an important constraint. The clients property is rocky therefore the size and type of wheels/tires used must be heavily considered. Also the land has many trees and objects that pose as potential obstacles, therefore front and rear bumpers should be incorporated into the design. Economic: Overcoming the health and safety constraints relies heavily on the budget proposed for the project. The physical support systems and the extra passenger seat
greatly increases the cost of the go-kart due to an increase in materials, and a more powerful motor due to the extra weight. Sustainability: Whenever possible, adjustable support will be used to accompany Nathans growth and development in the future. Instructions on lubrication of key components and proper storage will be provided to maintain the integrity of the gokart. Ethical: The purchased parts for this project will be researched and chosen based on reliability and cost effectiveness, with reliability being the primary concern. All funds will be used for the purchase of parts and services solely for this project. The client will be informed of the initially planned budget and will be updated and consulted about any budget deviations. Environmental/Manufacturability: There are no environmental or manufacturing constraints because the go-kart is electrically run and is not mass-produced. Social/ Political: There are not social or political constraints on this project at this time. OTHER DATA Nathan lives in Stonington, CT, 1.5 hours southeast of UCONN Storrs, CT. His family has 16 acres of land some of which can potentially be used for the go-kart. Nathan uses a manual wheelchair, which he can move by himself but is constrained to using only his left hand. Nathans physical therapist is confident that Nathan can operate a joystick and is in the process of transitioning Nathan from a manual wheelchair to an electric one. The house and property has plenty of room for storage and transportation of the go-kart including is spacious garage and trailer. The following websites are directories for companies/products for people with disabilities and other resources, which have given us a more tangible idea of our end product. 1. www.blvd.com 2. www.makoa.org 3. Templeton M, Fitzpatrick M, Wartenberg M. Go-Kart for Joey Toce. University of Connecticut Biomedical Engineering Department (2009-2010). http://www.bme.uconn.edu/sendes/spring10/team5/index.htm QUESTIONS What is our budget? How much is the client willing to donate?
What should the maximum speed of the go-kart be? Should Nathan be able to accelerate in reverse direction? Will the go-kart have auto shut-off? What type/shape if joystick is easiest for Nathan to use? How will Nathan be getting in and out of the go-kart? Can we have passenger control, driver control and a remote control? What is the maximum amount of controls that Nathan can use? What types of tires are needed for gravel terrain? Can there be a kill switch for the passenger seat AND the remote control? How can an ipod dock be implemented in the design? What material can we use to support two people in the go-kart while still providing speed and safety? How high should the clearance off the ground be? What type of support can be implement in the design for Nathan s head, arms and trunk?