PAST QL+ PROJECTS
SCUBA DIVING PROSTHESIS
In collaboration with the organization, ‘Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba’ (SUDS), which engages wounded warriors in scuba diving, QL+ is developing a prosthetic leg for use when diving. Current prostheses can become loose and even detach once divers descend to the usual depth of 30 feet. They are also inefficient for underwater propulsion, causing the swimmer to compensate by adopting inefficient swimming techniques. This in turn increases oxygen consumption.
ICE HOCKEY PROSTHETIC LEG
(UNILATERAL AMPUTEES)
In collaboration with the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, a rehabilitative program that enables injured military personnel to play ice hockey, QL+ sponsored three student teams to address the needs of wounded warrior ice hockey players. This project focused on engineering a prosthetic leg that improves balance, control, safety and maneuverability for unilateral, below-the-knee amputees.
WHEELCHAIR HILL ASSIST
The purpose behind this QL+ Project was to engineer a device to assist manual wheelchair users when going uphill, prevent them from rolling backwards when on an incline, and help to slow and stop their descent when going downhill.
WHEELCHAIR TRANSFER ASSIST
Products currently available to assist wheelchair users transferring from their wheelchair to another seating area are limited to primitive transfer boards and cumbersome hoists. Both are difficult to use; neither encourage independence. This QL+ Project sought to engineer a stable, portable hoist that allows individuals to safely transfer between seats independently.
GOLF PROSTHESIS
Proposed by a QL+ Faculty Advisor at Cal Poly who specializes in sports research, specifically golf dynamics, this project developed a golfing prosthesis for a double arm amputee. Key design elements included developing a grip design that was quick and easy to use, engineering a natural wrist hinge motion that could be ‘‘held’’ and ‘‘released’’ in swing, and creating an attachment to encourage a “classic swing.”
BLIND DRIVER CHALLENGE
Inspired by a National Federation for the Blind initiative, this project developed a prototype feedback system to convey real-time data about terrain and environment to blind and visually impaired individuals. The ultimate goal is to build a specially adapted vehicle that incorporates this system and can be operated on a closed challenge course, giving blind and visually impaired individuals the opportunity to experience the thrill of driving.
PORTABLE TENS MACHINE
QL+ designed a portable, sweat-resistant TENS machine to help a former naval telecommunications and cryptology operator who competes in athletic field events to overcome neuropathic pain associated with her participation in discus, shot put and javelin events. Current models of TENS machines have limited mobility and easily become detached during rigorous exercise.
SONAR FOR THE BLIND
Brought to QL+ by the wider visually impaired community of Northern Virginia, this project researched and developed a system to provide a wider scope and more detailed level of feedback than the limited single footfall of clearance offered by the traditional white cane. The new system provides real-time, multi-directional feedback that offers improved upper body detection and a long battery life.
PROSTHETIC KNEE – LEG LIFT
This project, a collaborative effort between QL+ and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Cal Poly, engineered a prototype attachment to aid amputees when climbing stairs. The device easily connects to the existing leg prosthesis, aiding flexion and extension without impeding normal walking motion. The Project was awarded Gold in the National 2011 SWE TeamTech competition and is now undergoing further refinement prior to production and distribution to those in need.
PROCESS MAPPING
QL+ sponsored an Industrial Engineering student to research, map and develop existing QL+ processes for programmatic areas including project management and donations. By documenting current processes, then integrating staff feedback, revised processes were developed that will help the QL+ Program maximize efficiency and minimize administrative costs.
ICE HOCKEY PROSTHETIC LEG
(LEG INTERFACE)
QL+ sponsored several challenges in conjunction with the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, a program that provides recreational, therapeutic and educational benefits to military veterans with combat injuries via participation in ice hockey. This QL+ Project focused on the interface between the residual limb and the lower limb prosthesis to improve safety, comfort and utility.
ERGO KNIFE
QL+ continues to refine the Ergo knife, an ergonomically-designed cutting instrument developed by a US Army Occupational Therapist for use by those with diminished hand, wrist or arm functions. To date, three students have addressed design and manufacturing processes, in order to reduce cost-per-unit production costs and thereby maximize the number of individuals who can benefit from this product.
ACTIVE WHEELCHAIR SUSPENSION
This QL+ Project sought to develop an actively actuated wheelchair suspension system for incorporation into standard motorized wheelchairs. This reduces the vibrations transmitted to the wheelchair user, which can be detrimental to the user’s health and comfort.
PROSTHETIC HAND
PROSTHETIC LEG
This QL+ Project produced a ruggedized, multipurpose prosthetic leg for use by an active-duty Navy SEAL. The new design allows the wearer to undertake various activities – running, walking and swimming – without the need to switch between prostheses with specific functionality. The QL+ solution also offers improved comfort levels and eliminates the issue of prosthetic detachment during rigorous exercise.
ARTIFICIAL SKIN
HUMAN TOUCH
The aim of this QL+ project was to design and build a pressure-sensitive glove, capable of simulating the sense of human touch, using silicone skin inlaid with tactile pressure sensors. This project has enormous promise in the fields of both robotics and prosthetics and could be particularly innovative in the development and production of new prosthetic limbs.
CAT 320C L EXCAVATOR
INGRESS/EGRESS
The cab of this earth-moving machine is several feet off of the ground and has only two steps for ingress/egress. This QL+ project developed a chair-like hoist system to enable machinery operators with limited mobility, including amputees, paraplegics and quadriplegics, to easily enter and exit the excavator’s operating cab.
CAT D6R BULLDOZER INGRESS/EGRESS
The operating cab of a CAT D6R bulldozer is several feet off the ground, with limited steps for ingress/egress. Student engineers at the QL+ Laboratory developed a system to enable those with limited mobility, including leg amputees, paraplegics and limited quadriplegics, to easily enter and exit the machine’s operating cab.
ADAPTIVE WHEELCHAIR
This challenge engineered a wheelchair that quickly and easily adapts between indoor and outdoor environments, and on-road and off-road formats, including rough terrain and gradients, making it possible for wheelchair users to experience nature independently, without the need to switch between wheelchairs with specific indoor/outdoor functionality.
YOSEMITE RESIDENTIAL
A tract of land belonging to a QL+ supporter near Yosemite needs to be cleared and replanted following a forest fire. As part of the QL+ mission to help reintegrate disabled veterans back into employment, the work will be carried out by disabled veterans. QL+ sponsored a competition for students of the Architecture Department at Cal Poly to design eco-friendly, disabled-accessible residential accommodation for use by injured veterans during the land clearance and reforestation project.
THE TABLETTE
The Tablette is a portable table that effectively extends a table edge, filling the space between the table and a wheelchair user. This solves a common problem often faced by wheelchair diners whose wheelchairs prevent them from being comfortably seated within an acceptable distance of a table, which can lead to spilled food and drink.
ERB PROSTHETIC HAND
A Cal Poly student team collaborated to update and redesign the Erb Conformable-Grasp prosthetic hand, originally developed in the early 1990’s by a group of scientists at Franklin Research Center. The updated hand is inexpensive, lightweight, and fits a wide range of residual limb sizes. It is intuitively functional, meaning control of the hand will require little conscious thought. Its outer covering mimics as closely as possible the appearance of a natural hand.