Colorado AgrAbility ProjectColorado AgrAbility ProjectYou want to do what?You want to do what?

Jason Beck, Rehabilitation Technologist

Assistive TechnologyHow do you match a client with AT?1) Look for new ways to complete tasks

• Can you change how client must complete tasks?2) Look for commercially available products designed to

complete tasks• R&D has been done, product will do what it says

3) Look for commercially available products that you can modify to complete tasks• Always easier to modify than to design

4) Design and fabricate a unique device• Most expensive, largest risk, sometimes only option

Unique solutions

1) PTO Jack2) Automated Irrigation Gate3) Portable Ladder/Staircase4) ATV Throttle5) 3D VR model with students

PTO Jack • Client was paraplegic• Family member had to

hook-up PTO shaft from tractor to baler

• Difficult for family members to support and couple shaft at same time

• Jack used to support weight of shaft so that helper only had to worry about coupling

PTO Jack

• Materials:– Scissor style car jack– Half of irrigation PVC

pipe– Bungee cord to hold

PTO shaft– Fasteners to bolt

together• Cost

– $50

Automated Irrigation Gate

• Client was paraplegic• Unable to control

water level for irrigating by himself

• Family member (wife) had to manually insert 2”x4”s to dam up water

Automated Irrigation Gate

• Materials:– Steel channel frame– AC geared motor w/brake– Chain to turn jackshaft– Steel jackshaft– Sheet metal reinforced

w/angle iron to dam water– Climbing webbing to attach

sheet metal to jackshaft

• Cost– About $700

Portable Ladder/Staircase

• Client suffered from chronic back pain and arthritis

• Irrigated his land by siphon from concrete ditch

• Ditch at the bottom of very soft dirt slope

Portable Ladder/Staircase• Materials:

– Aluminum angle for structure

– Raised expanded metal for stair treads

– Steel pipe for handrail– Aluminum scrap for

outriggers– Receiver hitch– Fasteners to bolt together

• Cost– About $200

ATV Throttle

• Client had severe crush injury to right forearm

• Could not operate thumb throttle on ATV

• Modified throttle to twist type and moved to left side

ATV Throttle

• Materials:– Help from Colorado

Powersports– New throttle cable attached

to carburetor– Twist throttle control

attached to throttle cable– Moved to left side of ATV

• Cost– $175

3D VR Model with Students• Transfer from tractor lifts

into tractor cabs not always safe or efficient

• Work with students from the University of Colorado to model JD 4440 tractor cab

• Use 3D virtual reality to determine placement and types of devices to help transfer from lift into cab

Thank YouAny Questions?