WVU Soccer Robot & Assistive Technologies
My Role:
- Led concept generation and ideation meetings for product design.
- Collaborated with special education teachers to develop project scope and user needs.
- Designed and built proof of concept mechanisms for alpha prototype.
- Presented project at the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities.
- Review/revise mechanical designs in CAD for DFM.
- Communicate with machinists and parts suppliers to facilitate small batch production runs.
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Project Overview: ​
In 2013, professor Andrea Taliaferro from West Virginia University partnered with the Pascack Pi-oneers robotics team to develop assistive technology for physical education. Our goal was to create a device that would enable students with disabilities to participate in physical education classes and have fun doing it! This started a 5-year product development journey over the course of which we conducted interviews, researched user needs, developed hardware and software solutions, tested, and completed alpha and beta prototypes.
When I graduated in 2014, I knew this project was too important to step away from. As my role with the team transitioned from high school student to college mentor, so too did my role in the project. Rather than designing and fabricating the device as a student, I could now guide the next stage of the development process.
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Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2014, when we finished our first full scale prototype and brought it to a local YJCC to be tested by Professor Taliaferro and a small group of students with special needs.
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Phase 2 of the project culminated at the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities in 2018 where we presented our prototype and findings to special education teachers from across the country. Shortly thereafter, our final product was delivered to West Virginia University where it is currently being used in both physical education classes, and masters level courses in adapted physical education to train the next generation of special education teachers.
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​Though this project concluded upon completion and delivery of phase 2, a smaller, more focused group of individuals still keeps in touch with Dr. Taliaferro, and is open to the possibility of launching a new design initiative and exploring new opportunities to bring assistive technologies to more schools, students and programs across the country.
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