Mechanical Engineering Students Invent Canoe Chair for Kids with Cerebral Palsy
April 28, 2010
When mechanical engineering seniors Paul Adkins of Shreveport, Troy Blanchard of Baton Rouge, Henry Hardee of Mandeville, and Patrick McCarthy of Houston, TX, set out to produce their senior project, they were unaware of the bumpy roads ahead.
"We were originally working with a local sponsor to build an underwater lawn mower," explains Blanchard, "when that fell through, our team was worried because we didn't have many options left and we knew that we had to complete a project before graduating." Not long after, fate came knocking at the team's door.
Janet Ketcham of the McMain's Children's Center was searching for a way to help the children at her facility enjoy canoe rides. The children all suffer from cerebral palsy which makes fun activities such as canoe rides almost impossible. The team of mechanical engineering students met with Ketcham and had a chance to develop friendships with the young children who anxiously wanted a chance to go out onto the water. With a budget of $400, the team set out to build an adjustable chair that would allow the children of McMain's Children's Center to go on a canoe ride.
The team worked on the project under the guidance of Dr. Warren Waggenspack, Jr., associate dean for academic programs in the College of Engineering. Weldon Taquino and his company APP-EPI Polymer Products donated materials to help with constructing the team's chair and LSU alumnus, Captain Dave Giurintano advised the team and was a financial sponsor.
"Working with the center and building this chair has been an eye opening experience for me," explains team member McCarthy, "After graduation, I have plans to work in the energy sector field and though it's completely different from the work I've done for this project, I'll never forget the lessons I've learned both in engineering and from the children."
As the team puts the finishing touches on their project and prepare to show it off, they are discussing plans for the future. McMain's Children's Center approached the team wanting to patent and mass produce the chair. Albamor Construction and Engineering and ExxonMobil have both offered their support should the team decide to go through with mass producing their chair.
The team of mechanical engineering students admit they knew very little regarding cerebral palsy and the importance of McMain's Children's Center when they first began the project. After working closely with the center and the children, they have become aware of the disease's effects and are working to bring about awareness within the community. For more information on the cerebral palsy, the McMain's Children's Center, please visit www.mcmainscdc.org.
The senior design project is one of the final tests engineering students face before graduating from the College of Engineering. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) will host the ME 4202 Capstone Design II annual seminar presentation May 4-5, 2010. Mechanical engineering undergraduates worked throughout two semesters on a design project of their choice. Projects are judged by a design panel consisting of local industry leaders and LSU faculty and alumni.
All Mechanical Engineering faculty members, projects sponsors, faculty advisors, alumni, graduate students, Mechanical Engineering undergraduates, and the general public are invited to this event each year. To obtain information for next year's event, submit an area for research, or to become a judge or sponsor, please contact Dr. Mike Murphy at murphy@me.lsu.edu or Don Eisenberg at eisenberg@lsu.edu.
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Article by Crystal Jackson, College of Engineering Public Relations Graduate Assistant
