Engineered with skill... love and care

-Lo Tien Yin

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING students are finding new meaning in their studies at NUS – putting what they have learnt into community service. It is indeed a gratifying experience as two teams in the department will tell you.

The two teams work closely with the Assistive Technology Specialists from the Specialised Assistive Technology Centre (ATC) at the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) on projects as part of their course. Their contributions have so far included customising a motorised wheelchair for a client with cerebral palsy. The working prototype was developed by a team led by Associate Professor Teo Chee Leong who is also Director, NUS Overseas Colleges, and Professor Etienne Burdet of Imperial College London.

HELPING THE DISABLED: Mechanical Engineering students working on a wheelchair that is customised to the user’s needs. Above right: The Brain-Controlled Wheelchair.

Associate Professor Teo explained that the Brain-Controlled Wheelchair (BCW) is the result of research at NUS and the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R). Controlled by brain waves using the “Brain Control Interface” developed by I2R as well as robotic technology at NUS to ensure safety and effective control, the BCW is suitable for those whose muscles are wasted – for example, people who are suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These patients can however use their brain to control the wheelchair. Brain signals, converted into electrical signals, are recognised by the artificial neural network built into the wheelchair system. The network will then command the motorised wheelchair to go to the desired location.

“SPD would introduce to us potential users and we would study their cases and see how we can solve their problems. SPD also provides us with clinical expertise as well as feedback,” said Associate Professor Teo.

Ms Chia Woon Yee, SPD’s Director of Technology, commented that it has always been difficult for people with severe physical disabilities to accept that they are unable to move around especially after an acquired disability. “This research project will enable them to have some form of independence in their mobility and thus improve the quality of their lives,” she said.

Another team led by Associate Professor Ian Gibson in collaboration with Industrial Design students from the School of Design and Environment, also works with SPD on customised wheelchairs. Earlier this year, they have invented an adjustable “mount” which allows communication devices to be placed securely on it. The team is further refining the mounting system to give it more flexibility for a wider range of purpose.

As another example of the kind of work which they have been doing, Associate Professor Gibson said: “We are also helping to design an access system for a wheelchair user to get up a steep ramp at his block. Having weak arm muscles, he could only manage the shallow slopes.” Currently, researchers associated with this team are developing a computer-aided system which can simulate a patient’s condition – curvature of the spine for example – so that the wheelchair can be adapted to accommodate their conditions.

Said Professor Lim Seh Chun, Head, Mechanical Engineering Department: “I hope such endeavours in the department will send the signal that ME staff and students are working on meaningful engineering projects that can benefit society in an impactful manner.”