How It Started

       Once I took the decision to build a Wheelchair for my brother, I started to think how to start it. At first I thought of copy an existing Wheelchair. But all of them where not road worthy. Then I start looking for a wheelchair which is road worthy, I realized that they are too complicated to design or too costly to build. One example is shown in the image. I didn't want to give a basic wheelchair for my Brother though but at the same time I didn't want a wheelchair which can take years to build it. I wanted something simple, robust and road worthy.

         Then I told myself, Let me design an all new wheelchair, one of a kind in the world specially made for my brother. The design should be in par with an automobile, styling should be excellent and functionality should be superb. This was my initial thought on the wheelchair. I did some initial sketches with many crazy shapes, with provision for LED lights for styling, added some shapes which were funky and many more out of the box thinking. At some point I was wondering whether I had gone too far in my design. So I requested one my friend Mr. Prathap to review my ideas and design approach, he is a specialist in industrial design who worked in automobile industry. For him my approach was funny and he literally laughed at me when he saw some sketches. He said if I go with my idea on wheelchair then it may look too odd and too expensive. He explained me about the some basic approach in industrial design. He gave me some suggestion which was a great help and made me to change my course on design, next few days I was in touch with him and discussed on various ideas. At the end of all the discussion I had overall picture of a perfect good looking wheelchair in my mind. With the help of this vision on wheelchair I started doing some 3D models of different parts and soon I realized that I don't have much details to conclude my design and most important I didn't had any user requirements. This was a major set back for me to start the 3D models. So I was wondering what to do next. 

          Then realized that I skipped many things as per the traditional New Product Design approach which I was well versed in Schneider Electric, How could I missed it. It was a foolish decision to start 3D modeling of wheelchair without knowing what I need to build it. This made me to take a break from 3D models and started to do some research in internet, I did some literature study on the specification of Wheelchair, I refereed many E-books on Wheelchair designs. I made a list of details I need and also came up with some checklist for it. Once this was done I started my data collection. I interacted with my brother on his needs and requirements. I also interacted with many of his friends to understand the overall picture of basic needs in the product. This was a great realization for me and I was glad that I did this exercise in this early stage. At the end of this exercise I got a full specification of the wheelchair which helps me to start my design. But still I was not ready to start the 3D models. I needed all the standard components which will be assembled in wheelchair like motors, joystick, wheels, battery, etc. So it was a time for shopping. I again started searching in internet to buy the parts, which turned out to be very difficult task, because in India we don't have any company who supplies these kind of components. All these components are available in India through import and driven by hugh quantities, which I could not afford to do so for obvious reasons, i.e., I am building only one wheelchair for my brother. So I started to look for a local wheelchair manufacturer who may have some spare components. I found 2 manufacturer, one in Bangalore and other in Chennai. I was little hesitant to contact the Bangalore guy because he was the person who gave a demo for my brother. So I contacted the Chennai guy and explained him about the product. He agreed to give my the components. So I visited Chennai and brought a pair of motors and Joy Stick for Rs.30 K which was expensive but could not help it.

The purchase of these item was a major hurdle for me as I was sure that I can source the remaining standard components in Bangalore. I came back from Chennai and started shopping for more parts and parallely I started my 3D design.


Next update will be on deciding on wheels for the wheelchair, a crucial component for the project.

Introduction

       In 2009 & 2010, I was working on a project privately apart from my regular work. I took this project to satisfy my Brother's need. The Project is called as "Custom Built Power Wheelchair". I started the work in the month Oct 2009. This Product was entirely designed and built by me. It took almost 1 year for me to complete this, because I was working during weekends. Each and every part was manufactured with the help of local vendors, fabricators, etc - Thanks to them for their timely support. Now it is been used by my brother and he is happy roaming all around in it. It has been almost 2 years that he is using it and I can see the change in my Brother life style now. At first I thought I am just satisfying my brother need to commute from office to home, this was the reason why I didn't think of publishing this in any news paper or TV channels. The lifestyle which is he enjoying is far more different than what he was doing before he got this wheelchair. he goes to hotel for his lunch, buy groceries, go to shopping center, watch movies in theaters and list is endless. This is why I thought I will put this in internet so that if I get enough support and funds I will change the life style of all the peoples who are like my brother.

        Using this Blog, I want to share my experience on that particular 1 year work which I did on the Wheelchair for my Brother. I want every one who is reading this Blog to get inspired and do such thing which help our Physically Challenged Community to change their lifestyle.

        Before starting this, I would like to introduce my Brother. My Brother name is Manjunth Reddy. He is Tri-Plegic from Birth due to Cerebral Palsy, i.e., his both legs and Right hand does not work properly (Brain does not have full control on these limbs). He studied in a special school till 5th Standard. He could have continued in the same school and lived stress free, but from 6th standard he studied in a regular school. He did his Diploma in Computer Science in a Special Collage in Mysore. After this he continued to do Bachelor in Computer Science in regular collage. Now he is working in a company called "MindTree Consultancy" in Bangalore. All these year I have seen him struggle to fulfill his education and work needs. My parents, younger brother and myself have helped him in most of the situation but still it was not sufficient. He was always facing an issue with mobility. He avoided all the functions which happens in the family, he was depending upon others to go to Barber Shop, shopping malls, family tours, temples etc. So I was always thinking of helping him. One day he planned to buy a wheelchair from one of wheelchair manufacturer in Bangalore. The Wheelchair manufacturer organized a Demo at our home. I saw the product and it was very impressive, but price was too high for that kind of product, which my brother could not afford to buy it, so we sent him back. Me being a Mechanical Engineer by education & having more that 8 years of experience in designing and creating many product as a part of my job, I thought my self why cant I build a Wheelchair for him. So that day I told my Brother that if you wait for some time I will build a wheelchair which can be used both indoor and outdoor, he agreed for it. This is how it all begun and for the next one year I spent all my leisure time and monthly savings on this project