An automated solution to address manpower demands on transportation within the workplace. In its current form, the target is for healthcare facilities and Nursing Homes in Singapore.

The brief was to design and make a product that resolved a social issue that the world is experiencing. I narrowed this project to tackle Singapore's management of its ageing population.

An opportunity to open myself to this age group, I attended a social activity held by LASALLE Student services with NTUC Nursing Home to engage with the residents there in a animated film screening and hands-on painting for the residents. It was during the activity that it occurred to me: 

All the residents were wheelchair bound, and as such, needed one staff personnel to push them from their rooms to venues such as this function room. The event had 11 residents, and so would need 11 staff personnel that could otherwise be tending to other duties. Could the transport of residents from one place to another be automated so that it would reduce the dependency on the ratio of caretakers/personnel to residents?

Prior to the event at the nursing home, an idea was for a wheelchair to be converted into a makeshift stretcher or bed. Although this concept was not entirely pursued, I initially considered adding this feature to the early SNAVI concept. Although ultimately, deciding against it since it this stage, the core focus was that it would be an automated solution for transport and adding this feature did not contribute to that selling point.

In speaking with the executive at the nursing home, I laid out several requirements that SNAVI would need to have:

 1) The device must be capable of self-navigation and automated mobility. (Main selling point).

 2) The user in the seat cannot be in control of the device's mobility controls. (If the residents were to be in control of the device, they may wander into places in the facility that they should not be/may put them in harm's way.)

 3) The device should be designed for extended comfort and prolonged use. (Residents that are incapable of independent mobility; even with mobility aids like walking sticks or walkers, will be wheelchair bound and may be sitting in the chair for long periods of time.)

 4) The device must have a quick-change battery to enable continuous use. (Fixed charging stations will mean periods of idleness/waiting for device to charge.)

 5) The device must be aware of its surroundings to prevent collision with other wheelchairs or persons walking along the same corridors.

Research on existing power wheelchairs.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC_wTDfdyek 

6-wheel configuration was initially adopted to centralize the chair's axis for on-spot 360 degree turning. However would be abandoned later in the project, mainly due to the number of wheels not being a factor entirely and altering the axis may affect the chair's handling for its manual input.

Whilst the tracked platform allowed the chair to climb up and down stairs, it would overcomplicate this design for what it was meant for and was deemed unnecessary to SNAVI.

Visit to Falcon Mobility showroom to understand electric wheelchairs in the market. Emphasis was placed on movement, charging method, device placement (motors, batteries, cabling, etc.) and additional features (if any) that can potentially be included in the SNAVI design.

A switch to enable and disable the power chair's automated mobility was also noted.

Mk I Scale model ergonomics testing (1:10 scale).

Mk II Scale model ergonomics testing (1:10 scale).

Using a Commode chair that was acquired from disposal and a wheelchair from the school workshop, I estimated dimensions and constructed a 1:1 low fidelity mock-up of the intended chair scale.

Scale model ergonomics testing (1:1 scale).

Final sketches for styling and form.