1. Balance Training Bicycle
Senior Design Project 8001
Team Members : Jonathan Bawas (EE), Carl Mangelsdorf (ME), James Nardo (ME), Jeffrey Tempest (ME), Jennifer Zelasko (IE)
Faculty Guide : Elizabeth DeBartolo, Ph.D.
December - Planning
Interview Customer
Develop Customer Needs
December – Concept Development
Benchmarking
Concept Generation
Concept Evaluations
Pick the Concept!
January – System Level Design
Risk Assessment
Proof of Functionality
February – Detailed Design
Bill of Materials
Detailed Drawings
Review with Customer
Risk Mitigation
March - Construction
Gather Materials
Assembly
April – Test
Functionality
Performance
Debugging
May – Field Demo
Deliver Bike to Customer
Technical Paper
Problem
Patients with neurological disorders who require physical therapy training on a stationary bicycle may experience a challenge of balance when transitioning to a traditional bicycle.
Customer
Physical Therapy Clinic at Nazareth College
J.J. Mowder-Tinney, PT, MS, NCS, CWS
Project Timeline
Key Objectives
1. Design a mechanical system that mimics the lateral movements of a traditional bicycle.
2. Design and implement a control system to enable variable resistance of bicycle leaning characteristics.
3. Provide feedback to the patient and PT to indicate specific angles at which balance requires correcting, or imminent tip over conditions are present.
Major Design Specifications
Design Specification
Unit of Measure
Marginal Value
Ideal Value
Most Important
Tilt Range
Degrees
0 - 8
0 - 15
Levels of Tilt
Levels 3
Infinite
Tilt Resistance Range
Lbs
0 to >150
Auditory Feedback of Tilt
Decibels
Seat Height Range (pedal to seat)
Inches
<27 to >34
Handlebar Height (vertical dist. - seat to handlebar)
9 - 10
<9 to >10
Handlebar Reach (horizontal dist. - seat to handlebar)
<15 to >19
Cross member height
0 - 24
<12
Bike Capacity
Portability - Force needed to transport bike 35
<35
Pedal Resistance
Ft-Lbs
Constant
Variable
Adjustment Tools -
Basic Tools
Hand
Least Important
Force needed to bring patient to Upright Locked Position 51
<51
Visual and Audio Feedback Display
Telescoping Seat Height w/ Pin-lock
Pivoting Arm w/ Locked Positions
Pillow Block Ball Bearing To Allow Lateral Tilt (X2)
Pedal With Built In Resistance Knob (Purchase)
Wheels For Portability
Spring compression adjusted with Winch
Winch Placement
Pulley Mechanism
Pin-lock control for upright “Locked Position”
Breadboard Circuit and Inclinometer Sensor
Future Work
Integrate Feedback System onto bike frame
Add pedal subassembly
Powder Coat frame
Test Assembly
A special thanks to the National Science Foundation for sponsoring our project, as well as G&G Fitness, and Bert’s Bikes for your generous contributions.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
ENGINEERING @
R I T
Senior Design
MERIT
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. BES Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.