SMART WHEELCHAIR

Project Summary

Role: Mechanical Design Engineer
Competition: Autodesk Design Challenge – Techkriti, IIT Kanpur
Domain: Mobility Product Development

Designed an intelligent electric wheelchair focused on improving mobility, comfort, and safety for elderly and physically challenged users. The project combined mechanical design, structural engineering, ergonomics, and product development to create a reliable and manufacturable mobility solution.

The Challenge

Conventional wheelchairs often lack intelligent assistance, ergonomic comfort, and efficient power management, limiting user independence and long-term usability.

The objective was to develop a smart electric wheelchair capable of providing safe, comfortable, and reliable mobility while remaining practical for manufacturing and everyday use.

My Role

My responsibilities included:

• User Requirement Analysis
• Product Architecture
• Mechanical Design
• CAD Development
• Structural Analysis
• Battery & Drivetrain Packaging
• Ergonomic Design
• Design Validation

Engineering Process

User-Centred Design

The project began by studying the challenges faced by wheelchair users, including mobility, comfort, accessibility, and safety.

The findings were translated into engineering requirements that guided the overall product development process.

Mechanical Design

The wheelchair was designed around a lightweight yet structurally robust frame capable of supporting daily use while maintaining ease of manufacturing.

Key design activities included:

• Frame Design
• Battery Packaging
• Motor Integration
• Wheel Assembly
• Seat Structure
• Component Layout
• Maintenance Accessibility

Engineering Validation

Engineering analysis was performed to verify structural performance before prototype development.

Validation activities included:

• Structural Analysis
• Load Distribution
• Frame Strength Evaluation
• Weight Optimisation

Product Development

The design considered practical manufacturing constraints and product usability throughout development.

Major considerations included:

• Ergonomics
• Manufacturability
• Assembly
• Serviceability
• Safety
• Cost

Results

• Developed a complete smart wheelchair concept from user requirements to engineering validation.
• Created a lightweight mechanical architecture balancing strength, comfort, and manufacturability.
• Secured 2nd Place in the Autodesk Design Challenge at Techkriti, IIT Kanpur.
• Demonstrated the application of engineering design methodologies to assistive mobility products.

Key Takeaways

This project reinforced the importance of user-centred engineering by demonstrating how mechanical design, structural analysis, ergonomics, and product development can be combined to create practical assistive technology that improves everyday life.