John Deere TeamWeekly Status Report

Week 2

Josh EbelingJamari Haynes

James JuneMike RenoBen SpiveyGary Twedt

Project: Modification of Gator for Handicap Accessibility

Task assigned by John Deere is the open-ended modification of their six wheeled Gator Utility Vehicle to facilitate handicapped accessibility

Two primary suggestions: wheelchair hoisting mechanism and controls modification

Preliminary Meeting

Main contact: Bobby Henebry Parameters of project:

• $2000 Budget

• Modification of Gator for handicapped accessibility

Parallel projects:• UIUC – Seat/Suspension altered to slide out

Project Bids: Possible Modifications

Bid 1: Hoisting Mechanism• Utilization of a pneumatic or otherwise

mechanical hoisting mechanism to move wheelchair from ground to vehicle bed

Bid 2: Controls Modification• Integration of existing gas and brake control

pedals into an apparatus designed to be operated totally by hand

Project Bids: Possible Modifications (continued)

Bid 3: Wheelchair Integration• Modification of the Gator to allow the

wheelchair to travel up a ramp and act as the drivers seat

Bid 4: Bed Modification• Modification of bed to raise and lower in order

to place the wheelchair (via hoisting mechanism) below the bed, causing no loss of available loading space

Project Bids: Possible Modifications (continued)

Bid 5: Storage Rack• Addition of a storage rack somewhere along

the body of the Gator, allowing storage of the wheelchair with no loss of cargo space

Bid 6: Wheelchair Modification• Modification of existing wheelchair design to

include a removable seat, allowing seat to be moved into position as a drivers seat

Project Bids: Possible Modifications (continued)

Bid 7: Controls Kit• Design of a modified controls system that can

be added onto existing Gator design as a kit to be sold separately

Bid 8: Roll Over Protective Structure• (ROPS) – addition of a “roll bar” to protect

passengers as well as facilitate the entrance of the vehicle by handicapped persons through the use of handles on the structure

New Action Items

Continued contact with Bobby and other John Deere personnel to facilitate web conferencing with teams at other schools. Responsibility: Gary Twedt

Continued updating of webpage with relevant documents. Responsibility: Gary Twedt

New Action Items (continued)

Contact Handicapped Driver Services, Inc. for information and advice on incorporating wheelchairs as the driver seat on the Gator vehicle. Responsibility: Ben Spivey

Contact wheelchair company through contacts in order to possibly obtain free equipment to use and test with. Responsibility: Ben Spivey

New Action Items (continued)

Investigate preliminary design possibilities for implementation of steering wheel-controlled gas and brake pedals. Responsibility: Josh Ebeling

Compile information into weekly progress report. Responsibility: Josh Ebeling

New Action Items (continued)

Investigate preliminary design possibilities for wheelchair hoisting mechanism. Responsibility: Mike Reno and James June