Functional Prototype
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The goal of the project was to manufacture six pre-production prototypes, for Blackwood’s independent living houses in Dundee. The houses were designed to specifically cater for wheelchair users’ needs, revolutionising the living standards for the users, their families, and carers.
The washing machines were seen as an essential part of the infrastructure. During this period, the Inventor was hospitalised with double pneumonia and left with chronic fatigue as a lasting legacy.
The Project milestones went through significant modifications to reflect the personal changes.
Technology
As they were already writing the operating software, Tritec Development took over the electromechanical integration of the project.
The six prototype machines were based around a flexible Mikroe development platform to host the control software and user interface, in conjunction with a bespoke circuit board to integrate with the machine hardware.
Scrutiny Group feedback was used to define software requirements, including functionality for a Bluetooth tablet/phone app for cycle selection and operation.
A development heating and condensing unit was fabricated, using the Peltier effect, with thermoelectric modules.
Tritec created a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) rig to test integration between the software and hardware. The HIL rig was combined with the mechanical rig, which then became the functional prototype.
Dimensions
E3design conceived a Construction Direction, on the dimensional footprint of the final design, and from this, a fully Functional Prototype design was produced that would allow one-off custom parts to be fabricated to test components and integration.
Testing with Blackwood would give feedback and assessment of the incorporation of the critical features, dimensions and requirements from previous rigs and personal trialling.
Exterior Design
Blackwood provided a Strathclyde University report on typical physical constraints of wheelchair users, the ‘Reach Report’, Echo Brand Desing used that as the bounds of useability and a free rein for a dimensional model of the washing machine, user feedback suggested rotating the hangers through 90 degrees as more user friendly.
The fantastic designs looked like nothing else then and still look like nothing else now, the designs were subject to robust reviews from the ever growing network of partners and stakeholders.
There have been personal, financial and organisational challenges along the way, these are detailed within the relevant sections of the website.
A decision was made to proceed with Kickstarter crowdfunding, to allow us to progress, in the difficult environment.
Without funding or investment, we can’t deliver this revolutionary product, which has the potential to transform the lives of wheelchair and limited mobility users around the world. The Lead Prototype will remain an example of unfulfilled opportunity and we don’t want that, Joe at least, deserves better!
IPR
We recognised the need for a universal hanger—a model that could hold any washing item, large or small, from bedsheets to socks.
Learning from previous efforts, with E3design, we identified the key characteristics and requirements. The solution was a flexible sheet, with multiple self-gripping apertures in a frame, for the washing machine overhead guide.
The design met the brief. It was tested at Blackwood, with an overwhelmingly positive response.
It was nicknamed the Plurality Hanger, because of the array of apertures. Following the user assessment, it was submitted for IPR.
How your pledge could impact our research
Any contribution, big or small, is greatly appreciated however if you cannot contribute today please consider sharing our campaign so that we can bring Washscape Revolution to market and give back independence to wheelchair and limited mobility users such as Joe.
Testing
The Blackwood 2015 AGM was truly ambitious, they built a complete mock-up of the internal structure of one of their Dundee Adaptive houses inside Edinburgh’s Dynamic
Earth facility, the dimensional rig took a central position in the kitchen set up.
We took the lightweight rig and sample hangers to replicate further tests, demonstrating the full door opening and superb access. We supported National and Local Media Briefings to great effect, to demonstrate the joint nature and mutual beneficial development process.
Exploitation
The Project goal was the delivery of six pre-production washing machines for Blackwood’s accessible Dundee houses.
The Inventor’s serious illness meant that this milestone was unachievable, so an alternative plan to complete these was put into place.
In light of this, the functional prototype was used for the opening ceremony, which became one of the focal points for the event PR and Media.
Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning,
performed the opening and said, ‘ . . when you’ve made these six, I want the next available washing machine.’
