At a glance
The project aims to develop a converter that allows standard wall outlets to charge wheelchair batteries, with a stretch goal… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2022-2023
- Small
- Awarded
- $3,300
- Funding partners
-
- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
The project aims to develop a converter that allows standard wall outlets to charge wheelchair batteries, with a stretch goal of accommodating multiple mobility aids like electric scooters. CSF funding will support material costs, machinist certification, and a contracted electrician for installation. If certification proves challenging, pre-certified parts will be used. The initial plan includes implementing two charging stations in the HUB, with potential expansion across campus.
The project idea is to create a converter to take 120VAC power from a standard wall outlet and output it through a wheelchair battery compatible connector. A stretch goal is to include additional electronic circuitry to allow the charger to charge multiple different mobility aids - such as electric
scooters. We will place the electronic components in a protected enclosure. The enclosure will be either welded metal or 3D printed composite.
We will use CSF funding to purchase materials as well as fund a mechanical shop certification session to become certified machinists. Funds will also be used to hire a union contracted electrician to connect the system to the UW power grid. If the team is unable to get our created electronics and box to pass the UL and UF certification needed for implementation on federal property, we will purchase certified parts and assemble them ourselves.
The plan is to implement two charging stations in the HUB (we have been approved to), and then implement more stations around campus.
Nathan Ford
Project lead
- naford@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 2 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Civil Engineering - Engineers Without Borders
Hero Alldredge
Team member
- herojall@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 4 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Civil Engineering - Engineers Without Borders
Michael Dodd
Team member
- doddm@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Faculty
- Years
- 1 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
Request amount and budget
Plans for financial longevity
Maintenance should be low-cost, and as we are building this station from the ground up our team will be able to manage most maintenance. Until the system breaks and needs to be replaced (lifetime estimate of ~10-15 years unless it is damaged externally), there should be no needed
maintenance. It is assumed that the building managers will pay the electricity to operate the device. Our charging station will be produced in the MEB and installed in the HUB. If needed, we may reapply to CSF or apply to the Student Technology Fee Committee for funding.
Our first activities, which have taken several weeks, are acquiring funding through CSF. After we submit this application, we will focus on design and prototyping for the following 8 weeks. During the final weeks of Spring quarter, we plan on purchasing materials and hiring necessary contractors
to make the installation legal. We are aiming for implementation by the end of spring quarter, but it may be pushed to Summer quarter.
If the implementation goes well, we will continue to implement more charging stations around campus the following year until we exhaust our budget or run out of buildings wanting the devices.
Plans for long-term project management
n/a
Problem statement
Currently, there is only one wheelchair charger at the University of Washington, in the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health. The lack of chargers in accessible locations around campus makes it harder for individuals who use electric wheelchairs to get around campus. The university contacted Engineers Without Borders and asked them to install more chargers around campus.
Problem context
This aligns with diversity blueprint goal 1, cultivate an accessible, inclusive, and equitable climate. This project was recommended to us by the disability student council, so we know students with mobility aiding devices will benefit if there are more wheelchair charging stations across campus.
Wheelchair charging stations would help to make a more accessible campus for students, professors, and staff. Being able to use a wheelchair charging station in many areas across this large campus would enable individuals who utilize wheelchairs on a daily basis to stay on campus for prolonged periods of time, as they wouldn’t have to worry about their wheelchair losing charge thus stranding them on campus. Additionally, putting the charging stations in common areas will help those with mobility aids interact on campus while charging their devices.
Measure the impacts
| Impact / goal | Metric(s) of success | UW stakeholders impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement of existing electric wheelchair charging infrastructure at important locations on UW campus. | Successful implementation of multiple electric chargers and verification of their use (through general surveys and QR code surveys at charging stations.) | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
| make mobility aid users feel connected and a part of the community by placing devices in common areas with appropriate furniture. | Satisfaction from users and those interacting with the devices. | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
Communication tactics and tools
Our key communication tactics are tabling, surveys, and emailing constituents. Our team has tabled twice this quarter in order to share our project goal with and get feedback from the student population. We have created a survey in order to gauge how effective the current charging station is and what improvements can be made in our new design. We also reached out to members of the student council for disabilities about collaborating on the project as well as spoke with professor Jennifer Mankoff in order to learn from her expertise in the accessible engineering field.
Outreach communication plan
We have access to the campus wide and students with disabilities mailing list so we can get the word out about our new station once it is complete. During construction, we plan on working with the student council for disabilities in order to make sure our station is helping as many people as possible. Once finished, we plan on having a survey users can take to either leave feedback or request a service.
Student involvement
In order to complete this project most effectively our team is going to train in the mechanical engineering workshop in order to have the tools to construct our charging station. We are also working with an electrical engineering senior to create the circuitry for our charging station.
Problem statement
Currently, there is only one wheelchair charger at the University of Washington, in the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health. The lack of chargers in accessible locations around campus makes it harder for individuals who use electric wheelchairs to get around campus. The university contacted Engineers Without Borders and asked them to install more chargers around campus.
Problem context
This aligns with diversity blueprint goal 1, cultivate an accessible, inclusive, and equitable climate. This project was recommended to us by the disability student council, so we know students with mobility aiding devices will benefit if there are more wheelchair charging stations across campus.
Wheelchair charging stations would help to make a more accessible campus for students, professors, and staff. Being able to use a wheelchair charging station in many areas across this large campus would enable individuals who utilize wheelchairs on a daily basis to stay on campus for prolonged periods of time, as they wouldn’t have to worry about their wheelchair losing charge thus stranding them on campus. Additionally, putting the charging stations in common areas will help those with mobility aids interact on campus while charging their devices.
Measure the impacts
| Impact / goal | Metric(s) of success | UW stakeholders impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement of existing electric wheelchair charging infrastructure at important locations on UW campus. | Successful implementation of multiple electric chargers and verification of their use (through general surveys and QR code surveys at charging stations.) | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
| make mobility aid users feel connected and a part of the community by placing devices in common areas with appropriate furniture. | Satisfaction from users and those interacting with the devices. | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
Communication tactics and tools
Our key communication tactics are tabling, surveys, and emailing constituents. Our team has tabled twice this quarter in order to share our project goal with and get feedback from the student population. We have created a survey in order to gauge how effective the current charging station is and what improvements can be made in our new design. We also reached out to members of the student council for disabilities about collaborating on the project as well as spoke with professor Jennifer Mankoff in order to learn from her expertise in the accessible engineering field.
Outreach communication plan
We have access to the campus wide and students with disabilities mailing list so we can get the word out about our new station once it is complete. During construction, we plan on working with the student council for disabilities in order to make sure our station is helping as many people as possible. Once finished, we plan on having a survey users can take to either leave feedback or request a service.
Student involvement
In order to complete this project most effectively our team is going to train in the mechanical engineering workshop in order to have the tools to construct our charging station. We are also working with an electrical engineering senior to create the circuitry for our charging station.