Engineering students modify truck for child

Staff report

AKRON

A team of biomedical engineering students at the University of Akron College of Engineering recently redesigned and adapted an off-the-shelf Power Wheels kid-sized vehicle to assist Nathan Ramey with mobility that complements his physical condition. Nathan is 4 years old, has Down Syndrome, is in remission from leukemia, and now has Clostridium difficile, a side effect of chemotherapy treatments that has caused stunted growth and low muscle tone.

The team was composed of team leader Christopher Halley, a fifth-year biomedical engineering major from Canfield; Reid Polis, fourth-year student from Poland; and Steven Innocenzi of Solon. The group was mentored by an engineer from Air Enterprises. Some of the modifications to the blue Ford truck included: redesigning the accelerator pedal to be within Nathan’s reach and to require less force to activate; modifying the seat to be slightly higher, with stronger seat belts and extra cushioning; attaching a front bumper to take most of the impact away if he hits an obstruction; and installing a remote-control kill switch which allows Nathan’s parents to instantly turn off the vehicle’s battery if Nathan is in a dangerous situation.