Design of a wheelchair for low-income countries, the second stage of a project

Abstract

In the first phase of the project, it was reported in a previous conference communication, the manufacture of two low-cost wheelchairs developed under this platform, both proposals designed in European countries (Spain and Italy). Following the constructive drawings and instructions available on the open-source platforms, both chairs were manufactured as close as possible to reported instructions. In their manufacture process, both wheelchairs presented some problems, in the construction and during the user testing phase, we report these kinds of problems in the first stage of the project. In the present stage, we start from models manufactured and tested with users, with the aim of improving the product design, since, one of the characteristics of the products designed under the open-source scheme is its ability to be modified and adapted to local needs, materials and production processes.