We love to share updates of how Charlie's Winter Walker is coming along and if you have ant questions, please get in touch with us by clicking the link below:
Kick Off Meeting
24th September 2018 Team Proto got together for the first time to discuss how to manage this exciting project. We introduced ourselves to each other and made an initial group structure so we work happily to our strengths.
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Primary Engineer Meeting
2nd October 2018 Team Proto received the competition submissions was truly amazed to see how innovative and useful primary students’ ideas were. Only if we were as creative as them! Team Proto knew that selecting just one idea to implement will be a difficult process. Nevertheless, Team Proto is working hard to select one idea to implement. Some of the ideas are shown above.
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Idea Selection
3rd October 2018 Team Proto was inspired by the Winter Walker design submitted by Charlie Torley. Charlie was troubled by how his grandfather’s inability to use his zimmer frame in winter time due to the ice and snow. He therefore could not go out and do his shopping which made Charlie sad. Like any engineer, he picked up his pencil and started creating a creative solution to solve his grandpa’s problem. We were really moved by his story and the entire team wanted to help Charlie’s Grandpa. Hence, we decided to work on Charlie’s Winter Walker.
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Concepts Making
17th November 2018 Team Proto has made 6 concept sketches with various designs of how to make the zimmer usable on snow and ice. Some involve using snow ploughs, snow mincer, bicycle like brakes with spikes and stud foot pads. Team Proto also come up with addons which will make Charlie’s grandpa’s life a bit easier like heated hands grips for winter time, folding chair, clip on flashlight and weekly medicine organiser and many more.
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Concept Selection - Frame Type
19th October 2018 From the 6 concepts, 4 types of frame were highlighted: modular foldable frame, custom foldable frame, standard fixed frame and custom fixed frame. Pugh Matrix was used to compare, evaluate and select a suitable frame for Charlie’s walker based on criteria like innovation, practicality and ease of manufacture to name a few. A custom fixed frame was selected since it outperformed others in the Pugh Matrix.
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Concept Selection - Attachments
21st October 2018 From the 6 concepts, 13 different and exciting attachments were noted! A scoring system was used to compare and mark all 13 attachments using a broad marking criterion with criteria like cost and commerciality to name a few. The 5 top scoring attachments were selected for the Winter Walker which include: detachable walking stick, folding chair, electric heated pads, mini snow plows, stud feet and threaded tyres.
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Frame's High Level Design Completed
28th October 2018 The custom fixed frame will be designed from standard 1 inch aluminium tubes with 3D Printed joints similar to the joints seen in industrial handrails. A 3D model of the custom fixed frame has also commenced.
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Attachments' High Level Design Completed
11th November 2018 High level design of all the 6 attachments was developed along with details on its working mechanism and attachment method to the frame.
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Client Meeting and Outreach Visit
12th November 2018 Team Proto made a trip Charlie’s primary school: Cromarty Primary School to showcase the Winter Walker design to Charlie and get feedback. Charlie was thrilled to hear about all the creative attachments and suggested that his grandpa would appreciate a custom foldable frame to allow easier storage when traveling. Team Proto also presented to the entire school along with Charlie’s class which the team really enjoyed.
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Christmas Video Produced
28th November 2018 Team Proto Productions created a short video promoting Charlie’s idea as part of Primary Engineer’s Christmas campaign promoting the SESLA Awards and Competition.
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First Version of 3D Model Produced
20th January 2019 |
Design Verification using 3D Model
30th January |
Version 1 of Charlie Winter Walker is now produced. Team Proto is now trying to add the foldable seat and detachable mini snow plow to the 3D Model.
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Making sure an engineering works is very important so Team Proto has carried out quick hand calculations and 3D model analysis to make sure the Winter Walker works as planned when Charlie's grandpa uses it.
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Part Orders Placed and Deliveries Flying In
10th February Once Team Proto finalised the Winter Walker design, orders amounting to around £80 were placed and many orders have arrived this week!
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3D Printing of Design Commenced
17th February 3D printing uses a 3D model to literally print the object in real life. Team Proto has used this technology to print Winter Walker joints and stud feet. Watch the video to see one elbow joint getting printed. Did you know it took 11 hours to print this joint!
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Preparation for Primary School Visits
21st February Team Proto was very excited to hear that primary schools would like us to present to their primary classes. Team Proto is now busy making fun and engaging presentation materials for teh 3 primary school visits.
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St Barbara Primary School Visit
27th February Team Proto had a great time presenting to the lovely St Barbara Primary School pupils in Glasgow. The group carried out deign activities with P4, P5, P6 and P7 classes and was really inspired by the creativity shown by the kids.
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Lady of the Missions Primary School Visit
4th March The 2nd school the group visited was the Lady of the Missions Primary School in the Southside of Glasgow. After presentations on engineering and Primary Engineer, a very interesting Q/A was held where the children asked Team Proto questions about engineering.
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Quarry Brae Primary School Visit
11th March This was a unique visit where the Team Proto got the opportunity to present at an assembly of all primary year groups from P1 to P7! Team Proto also conducted a design challenge where 2 year group had to invent a solution to problems they face in their lives. One such invention was a transparent glass toaster which allows the user to monitor the "toastiness" of their toast in the morning.
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25th March Deadline Met - Now Time to Build the Winter Walker!
25th March 2019 Team Proto is delighted to announce that they have successfully met the Winter Walker deadline of 25th March set by Primary Engineer today. Now it is time to finally build Charlie's Winter Walker; the deadline for this stage is the 1st week of June.
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Manufacturing Commences
7th May 2019 Exams have finished and the team is in the workshop. 3D parts have been printed and tubes are getting cut up. So far progress is good and its looking amazing.
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Finishing Touches
29th May 2019 The team has been working at the workshop and with SESLA event a few days away the Winter Walker is taking its final steps towards completion. The gallery shows each attachment and its location. What started as design ideas and a simple sketch from Charlie has become a reality. Its breathtaking and highlights how exciting this journey has been for the team.
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SESLA Event
7th June 2019 After 2 semesters, Team Proto were proud to present the Winter Walker at the Scottish Engineering Leaders award event. It was a fun evening and a chance to meet Charlie again and his Grandpa who was extremely elated with the prototype. This would not have been successful without the help our supervisor Dr McLaren, the University of Strathclyde and the Primary Engineer Team. It has been a pleasure and concludes an epic project.
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