Problem Statement

With modern technology, there is some sort of treatment for every impairment, disability, or condition one might experience in their vast life. However, very few assistants or aids exist to help prevent such conditions or simply ease everyday life. Considering a quarter of adults ages 45-65 and nearly all elderly, ages 66+, will experience knee pain, knee osteoarthritis, or some form of mobility impairment, greater improvement in this area is needed.

Canes are the most common movement aid, existing to alleviate the struggle those with mobility issues suffer while walking. Although beneficial in a majority of situations, they prove ineffective in certain situations. This is why railings are a common tool implemented to help those in variable elevation situations. When it comes to as simple as getting in and out of a car, nothing sustainable exists on the market and car manufacturers have yet to address such a simple issue that can make hundreds of thousands of lives easier.

To address this problem, I have worked to develop a retractable railing that can be installed on any car, truck, or sport utility vehicle (SUV). This product aims to help everyone keep their freedom and removed the potential fall hazards associated with entering and exiting a vehicle. The goal of this project was to develop a device that is intuitive, simplistic, and safe. The designed device should deploy with the touch of a single button, indicate to the user when it is safe to use, and retract without any user input. In addition, the design should feature ergonomic elements that are both comfortable and safe for the user.

On a personal note, my father's cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgeries made it difficult for him to enter and exit vehicles while attending medical appointments. I have previously completed the project but have spent more time dedicated to improving the design to hopefully help him when other members of my family are not there to assist. If you are curious about learning more please reach out to me. For now, I have attached some images of previous work below.

Figure 1: Preliminary folding concept

Figure 2: Folding mechanism design

Figure 3: Preliminary joint concept

Figure 4: Joint prototype

Figure 5: Rail prototype

Figure 6: Stabilization LEDs