Acerca de
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Autonomous Kayak Launcher
Team Members
Hsuan Lee, Henry Gomez Borowski, Dang Khoa Tran,
John Yuan Sen Looi.
Brief
Design a facility or service to help people with SCI (Spinal cord injuries) gain a higher degree of autonomy and independence when enjoying water-based activities at Seqwater sites.
Outcome
A modular autonomous watercraft launch system to enable partial or full independence for paraplegics, facilitated with custom transfer bench, wheelchair + bag storage and a seating area for prep and caregivers.
User
Value Proposition:
Removing barriers to promote an active lifestyle for people with SCI.
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Safe, Reliable, Accessible kayak launch system that boosts independence and confidence.
Modular Pontoon System
Single Configuration
Double Configuration
Adapt to changing water level height
A cable moored pontoon used in conjunction with designed gangplank component allows the pontoon to adapt to varying change in water levels. This eliminates the cost for an extra launch module.
Designed to Standards
for accessibility and safety of component modules
Australian Standards:
• AS 1428, Design for Access and Mobility
• AS 1657, Fixed Platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design
construction and installation
• Manual - Design Criteria for Floating Walkways and Pontoons, by
Dept. Of Transport and Main Road
COMPONENTS
Pontoon and Walkway
Ergonomic & usability aspects
• Surface marking indicating designated/recommended transfer area
• Signifiers for parking space and storage
Sustainable Materials
Recyclable + Preserve water quality
• Polystyrene foam
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) lining
• Grade 6000 Aluminum truss framing & sheets
• First grade marine carpet
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Roof
Usability and Function
• Protect personal equipment integrity
• Reduce UV exposure while allowing sufficient lighting
• Prevent seating surfaces from heating
Materials
• Polycarbonate corrugated sheet - PANTONE 4248 C
• Grade 6000 Aluminum frame
Rails
Usability and Function
• Prevent the users from falling off the facility
• Minimize the likelihood of people jumping into water
• Handrails during launch
Materials
• Grade 6000 Aluminum frame
Wheel Chair Storage
Usability and Ergonomics
Curved shape so that the furthest
wheelchair is still within the reach limit of 300 mm
Materials
• Grade 6000 Aluminum frame
Transfer Bench
Usability and Function
• Padded seating for skin protection
• Provide storage space for personal belongings
• Provide access to the gangplank
• Facilitate easy vertical transfer
Materials
• Vinyl padding
• EPE Sheet (15mm thick)
• Grade 6000 Aluminium
Gangplank
Facilitates independent use for launching watercraft
Clamp system secures the kayak using buoyant force +
Use of simple slide locks to increase stability.
Ergonomic and Usability
• Contact point between the transfer bench and gangplank
replaced by middle-finger-wide gaps to eliminate pinch hazards
• Bevel edges decreases skin injuries
• Gangplank’s width providing space to fit the hip width and open hands (i.e. 99th percentile man)
• Hand grips designed to fit
the hand dimensions of the
99th percentile man
• Back rest increases safety
Materials
• Vinyl padding
• EPE Sheet (15mm thick)
• Grade 6000 Aluminium
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Buoys
Ergonomic and Usability
• Secure the kayak during launch
• Direct the kayak into the canal
Materials
• Polyform or EVA
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Iterations and sketches were made taking into account insights from transfer
study and requirements from AS 1428 to develop a final sequence of use.
How it works ?
Sequence of Use
Usability Iteration
Transfer Study
Developing Empathy: User Experience Map
Developing insights from different daily transfers users employ. to design optimal method of transfer
Technical Drawings
Developed to Standards :
• AS 1428, Design for Access and Mobility
• AS 1657, Fixed Platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design construction and installation
list of components and cost for
cost analysis and benchmarking to other solutions on market.