Hi all! As we begin to make our way through the design process, the group would like to provide you with several important updates within the project designing phase. This includes the development of a preliminary and finalized budget on the necessary materials for this bed lift. Among them notably are the lifting and turning motors necessary to facilitate movement, the weight and position sensors for the perception of safe movement, and structural parts such as the aluminum tubing and aluminum sheets for the lift framework. In addition to circuitry components, these will provide a solid basis for a mechanism providing lift and rotation, and sensing a large degree of stability. Warning lights and audio alerts are also under consideration, in order to warn the user when the lift is lacking in stability.
To continue, the group re-evaluated its requirements to best fit the needs of the project. It is mandatory for the bed lift device to maintain stability while performing the necessary functions. Some key components include the sensors to aid in safe movement, the device providing a safe amount of leakage current, and the device warning the user and ceasing operation if the attachments are not securely fastened. These revisions as well as the addition of specification standards regarding general guidelines for safety provide a better scope on the experiment, as well as any limitations on the device.
The group also needed to ensure we considered any realistic constraints on the project. These include the limitations of our allotted budget, the electrical constraints of use among a variety of households, providing power efficiency using a limited amount of electricity, be easily repairable as well as have a manual backup for assistance when power is not available.
The group also considered several possible design frames for future construction, with a majority of the models containing a tall lightweight structure with a curvature at the top area of the lift, similar to that of a Hoyer or GRAVIS lift. Other models considered for possible design features include the sit-to-stand lift, as well as other motorized variations of currently available bed lifts. At present, the group is currently working on finalizing our designs as well as their necessary components for the upcoming interim design review presentation on November 1st, 2023. We hope to provide further updates on our progress once the designs are finalized.
Sera