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Statistics on Physically Disabled Children
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Posted by: ZanLii ®

01/20/2011, 02:38:37

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Hello, EngineersEdge-Forumers!

I'm a 3rd Year Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate, just started on a design project titled "Electrically-driven Tricycle for Disabled Children". My team of 3 are currently doing research to make a proposal with valid data before the deadline in the next 4 days.
It's pretty much a tricycle fitted with an electric DC motor and an electronic control unit to be used by children with at least a hand to operate. However, we might change the general specification depending on our findings about disabled children and commercialized disabled-friendly tricycles/bicycles.

I'm trying to find some statistical data on physically-disabled children/adults to have an idea of what kind of physical disability most people have. For example, how many people were born without 1 hand/1 leg/both hands/both legs/both hands & legs.
I've been going through the WHO's website, UNICEF's database, and for that information, without ANY results.

So I was hoping if anybody knows of some references that I could look into for the statistical data. It doens't matter if most reports/statistics are for adults with physical disabilities, but at least my team has some idea of that demographic group.

Help & discussion is greatly appreciated.








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: Statistics on Physically Disabled Children -- ZanLii Post Reply Top of thread Engineering Forum
Posted by: Marky ®

01/20/2011, 08:46:48

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Hi and welcome to the forum....I'm not sure that you'll find such data. Are you attending an American University?

I think you've put cart before the horse...you should have spent time polling experts (docs, hospitals, therapists etc.) to see if such a device is feasible/required. Did you do a patent search for such a device? Did you check the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)?

The HIPAA Law will be your biggest roadblock.

I did a Google search for "Electrically-driven Tricycle for Disabled Children" and saw that you've posted this on other forums.

Part of product design is leg work....do the leg work.

Good Luck








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Posted by: Pinkerton ®

01/20/2011, 09:39:34

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You could do some searching on the CDC (Center for Disease Control) FDA (Federal Drug Administration) websites for associated data.

@Marky, {edit} ooops {/edit}
Since this seems to be a design concept project for a class course, it does not have to be 100% practical or marketable in the immediate future. I think that Zan could safely skip the Patent search, determining need from the experts and ignore privacy restrictions et al.

Having done a few of these in my time, it is all academic.

Dave







Modified by Pinkerton at Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 17:28:24


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Posted by: Marky ®

01/20/2011, 10:23:03

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I guess I'd like to know what his group is getting graded for.








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Posted by: ZanLii ®

01/23/2011, 13:57:48

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@ Marky:
I'm attending a Malaysian university, if you're curious. University of Science, Malaysia.
This title is pretty much assigned by my professor, though we may change the title if we want to.

I never thought of asking the medical experts for their statistics. Thanks for your suggestion!

But now, my group members are considering changing the title to exclude the "disabled children" part & just install an electric motor to a tricycle. With only 2 months to come out with the working prototype, they're pretty much afraid of the "electronic control unit" part since we have no experience in electronic system design/hack. Also, a motor-battery-controller system (ready-made or separately bought) crashes our budget of RM250 (~US$80). I would still vie for the original topic despite the cost and the level of difficulty, but the majority has given their words.
What do you guys think about designing electric tricycles for children with disabilities? Would it be too difficult to do that under 2 months with a budget of US%80?

Although we might be changing our topic (and maybe not going to continue with the discussion on e-trikes for disabled children), I'll still leave this thread open for anyone who wants to contribute so that the next person interested in gathering data on children with disabilities will know where to find.

@ Pinkerton:
Thank you for your suggested links! Unfortunately, I'll have to pass it to the next guy needing this information as a stepping stone for his endeavor.







Modified by ZanLii at Sun, Jan 23, 2011, 13:58:20


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Posted by: Pinkerton ®

01/23/2011, 15:37:35

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>>What do you guys think about designing electric tricycles for
>>children with disabilities?

Well the dings and scratches from falling off it will take their minds off their disabilities.

Tricycles are notoriously unstable and that's why the motorcycle manufacturers moved to quads after thousands of deaths per year on the earlier 3-wheeled versions.

Start here...
https://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/bulletins/docs/b1985_07.htm

In the UK they have cars called a Reliant Robin. They too were very easy to roll over.

Here ya go...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr8SvdSzs7c

You may want to research 3-wheeled vehicles some more. With two wheels at the front they are MUCH more stable so if you are set on a tricycle then have two wheels at the front.

Dave







Modified by Pinkerton at Sun, Jan 23, 2011, 15:40:51


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