Hello!

Its been a while since we have been able to share any updates. But we have some very exciting ones! Since the last time we posted, we have had THREE amazing research and implementation trips to Uganda with a couple different student-led Senior Design Teams. 

During these trips, we have introduced four new designs. During the first trip, we introduced the box-design, which has been a user favorite because of its ease of transportability and setup for use. This was one of our original designs, and we were able to collect more information about how to make it even more easily manufacturable. Another design that we introduced was the tripod design, which is the most cost-effective design. This one is very sturdy while only using minimal material, and is very light-weight. User feedback indicated that it would be a good fit for someone who is in good physical shape and could squat down low. 

From our original trip (see earlier posts) we had a walker design that was very well received by users. Their feedback was that a walker made of wood was pretty heavy, and it would help out a lot if there were wheels. Also, wood is sometimes hard to clean, and buying paint to cover the whole surface of the walker was expensive. So, our wonderful students in the second year of the senior design teams came up with a design made out of PVC (on Uganda, the material is called PPR). They also came up with a way to use old bike wheels for the walker. We were able to build six of these walkers in Lira at local vocational schools while we were in Uganda for two weeks! Attached are some photos.

The third trip we again iterated on the walker design. This time, we made it a bit fancier, using metal instead of PPR. This made the device lighter and more structurally sound. It also made it cheaper to manufacture! All really great improvements, and we received some awesome feedback from users as well.

Our partners in Uganda are continuing to build the seats and distribute them to landmine survivors. We are excited that one of our partners there, Lawrence Odoc, is about to finish his college degree and be able to work with us full time in producing the seats.