If you would like to submit a QL+ Challenge, follow this link. Check out the projects that are in progress or that we've recently completed:

Beginning this Fall:

Training Fin for Karen

Karen is a world class athlete with a trans-tibial amputation. She regularly competes in a variety of races including triathlons. Her current swimming prosthesis does not train her muscles evenly to her other leg. Our challenge is to design and manufacture a swimming specific prosthesis that will assist during her training and racing.

Socket for Julius

Julius Schram is a man in our community with an above-the-knee amputation. The socket he currently has for his prosthesis does not fit him well and causes him discomfort. Our challenge is to design and manufacture a more comfortable and better fitting socket for Julius.

Trike for Sam

Sam Brenner-Ward is a 13 year-old boy who has cerebral palsy, is physically active, and loves technology. It is difficult for him to steer and reach the handlebars in his semi-recumbent three wheeled bike. Our challenge is to design and manufacture a semi recumbent three wheeler, or a bike trailer that can make it easier to steer and reach the handlebars.

Weight Shifting App

Amber is a recent Cal Poly graduate and an individual with a disability who uses a wheelchair. She is looking to find help from the QL+ Lab in designing and producing an app to assist with weight shifting. All wheelchair users must perform weight shifting to prevent skin breakdown, pressure sores, and ulcers. The rate at which they perform their weight shifts are varied and unique. Our challenge is to design an app that sets weight shift reminders for Wheelchair Users.

Capital Stand Up Paddle Board Challenge

Capital Stand Up Paddle Board (Capital SUP) is a company based out of Annapolis, Maryland. Capital SUP provides stand up paddle boarding experiences to injured and disabled service members and veterans. Currently, Capital SUP does not have a paddle board that is conducive to users with lower-extremity weakness. Design an adapted stand up paddle board that assists users with standing on a paddle board.  
 
Ankle Brace for Rita

Rita is a woman local to the San Luis Obispo area who has had multiple surgeries on her ankle following an accident. Rita benefits from the use of an ankle brace following her surgery, however the braces she has acquired dig into tender areas from her surgery causing pain and discomfort. Design and build a more comfortable ankle brace for Rita.  
 
Ankle Braces for Spencer

Spencer is a Cal Poly student who has a neurological disorder which requires him to wear ankle braces during his daily life. Spencer's current braces cause him discomfort. Design and build slimmer, more elastic ankle braces to allow Spencer more comfort.  
 
Skateboarding Arm for Davis

Davis is a young man who loves to skateboard. He was recently involved in an accident, which caused him to lose most of his left arm. Davis continues to skateboard despite his accident, but he would benefit from a device on the left side of his body to help catch him when he falls. Design and build a prosthetic attachment that provides Davis with security when he skateboards.  

Completed

3-D Printer Filament Reclaimer

We love using our 3-D printer, but where does all the filament go from support and failed prints? Right now, we're saving it for a new lab development team to build a filament reclaimer so we can reuse filament that has already been through the printer.

Tensile Strength Tester

A tensile strength tester can be used to determine the amount of elongation or reduction in an area depending on its structure and the material used. We're forming a team to create one for the lab!

Hand for Levi

Levi is a 6 year old boy with a partial hand, which requires a specific type of prosthetic. We've created an entirely mechanical design for him to do more activities, like monkey bars.

To read more about Hand for Levi, click here.

Arm for Luke

Luke has a birth defect of his arm from which his right arm ends after his elbow. We are looking at new ideas to make his activities, like driving and working out, more adaptable.

To read more about Arm for Luke, click here.

Cycling Leg for Francis Foo

Francis is a police officer who, when on-duty, sustained an injury that severely damaged his left leg. He decided to amputate his leg below the knee. Now, he hopes to receive a prosthetic that allows him to cycle again. To read more about Francis, click here.

Myoelectric Hand for Dr. Bratcher

​Dr. Bratcher is a winemaker who lost his hand in an accident. He's looking for a myoelectric device that can make his work at the winery easier.

To read more about Hand for Dr. Bratcher, click here.

Transportation System for Terra

Terra has cerebral palsy and hopes to receive a device that will assist her with transporting objects while using her forearm crutches to go shopping or work in the kitchen.

To read more about Transportation System for Terra, click here.

Tools for David

David has created a device to assist him with some of the difficulties he faces having Multiple Sclerosis and getting dressed. He'd like to advance his idea and make it more user-friendly.

To read more about Tools for David, click here.

Variable Rigidity Ankle

The VRA is being designed for our challenger, Phil, who hopes to have an ankle prosthesis that he can use to ride his skateboard and do other activities on uneven terrain.

To read more about VRA, click here.

Bike Trailer

Also referred to as The Chariot, this trailer uses adaptive technology to make bike rides interactive for Lisa, a 10 year old give with cognitive and physical disabilities.

To read more about Bike Trailer, click here.

 

Quick Swapper Mechanism

Taylor Morris requested a device that he could use with his prosthetic hands to quickly change out his different prostheses for activities like triathlons.

To read more about Quick Swapper, click here.

 

Training Fin

Our Challenger, Karen, is a San Luis Obispo local who is a transtibial amputee. She hopes to resistance train while swimming more symmetrically with the help of this fin.

To read more about Training Fin, click here.

 

3D Scanner

This homemade scanner is a lab development project. We are using technology from an old XBOX Kinect in order the scan object and download them onto computer software. With this technology, we hope to be able create prototypes modeled to a shape more precise than if we used measurement.

 

Thermoformer

A thermoformer is used to heat a plastic sheet, which then covers a form, such as a foam cutout, and is vacuum-sealed to accentuate the form's shape. The mold can be filled with materials like silicone and is beneficial in the prototyping process. Our thermoformer was used in a workshop in Spring 2016.