Limbitless Solutions, the team of University of Central Florida students that creates and donates bionic arms for children, has developed a new 3-D device that moves wheelchairs with simple facial movements.
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The team put together several electronic components into a small box that attaches to the joystick on a wheelchair. Electromyographic sensors are then placed on the person 麻豆精品 S檚 face, near their forehead. The sensors send a signal to the box and depending on which muscles are used, the signal moves the joystick propelling the person forward, backwards, right or left. Seems complicated, but it took quadriplegic Charlie Merritt only five minutes to master it.
The U.S. Marine and former power-lifting champion, who was injured in a diving accident in 2014, demonstrated the technology Tuesday at the College of Engineering and Computer Science at UCF.
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The design and technology come from Limbitless Solutions, a UCF-based non-profit student group that last year debuted on the humanitarian scene by building 3-D printed bionic arms for about $350 and giving them to children at no cost. They have helped seven children to date and will deliver 12 more arms to children across the nation in time for Christmas as part of the team 麻豆精品 S檚 12 Days of Christmas Campaign.
Some of the team 麻豆精品 S檚 newest members developed the wheelchair project.
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The wheelchair kits are produced for $300 to $500 compared to other technology on the market that ranges from $700 to $1,000.
The team unveiled the new device today in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is home to the non-profit. The wheelchair device was created in the Texas Instruments Innovation Lab, one of several Maker Space labs that the college created with industry support to encourage students to blend engineering prowess and creativity.
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Merritt said he hopes the prototype can be mass produced and shared with veterans around the country because it would certainly help some of those affected by severe spinal-cord injuries. Merritt is chronicling his journey on a 聽 in hopes of raising awareness of the plight of those paralyzed while serving their country. He is the treasurer for the , a group that assist veterans with spinal-cord injuries.