Prosthetic Design
I designed "Sophie’s Helper 'Paws'" for my childhood friend Jacob. His dog, Sophie, suffers from paralyzed hind legs, and Jacob still recalls fond memories of when she ran freely. My creation is a prosthetic harness with remote-controlled, compressible wheels powered by a motor. Sophie’s previous prosthetic cart prevented her from maneuvering between different textured surfaces such as grass and sand. Consequently, I prioritized adaptability and designed wheels that adjust their size depending on the roughness of the terrain. If Sophie can run more comfortably with Jacob, I have successfully reignited their companionship. Furthermore, in my images, the compression mechanism is intentionally exposed on one of two wheels.
Independent Execution
Procreate 2023
Compression Wheel Mechanism: Design Decisions
1. I attached sturdy wires to circle each wheel, ensuring even spacing between the attachments.
2. I added wooden sticks that served as a secure connection point between the two wheels. After the sticks were glued to each wheel, a foam, circular tube was wrapped around them.
3. I wrapped a stronger tape around the circle surfaces to secure their attachment to the wires. This also ensured that any sharp wire edges did not hurt the dog using the prosthetic.
Using Procreate, I digitally sketched the different components of the prosthetic, as well as explained the compressible wheel mechanism which mainly sets my design apart.
Final photos of the 3D design execution - A model dog wears the prosthetic, with straps across its back and supporting its stomach. The bottom row photos display how the wheels shift depending on the roughness of the terrain, as explained in the digital sketch.