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The Drawing Board:-Water Transfer Technology ............ |
On the Drawing Board:“Watercraft Transfer Technology” All Aboard: Development of Portable Watercraft Transfer Technology to Increase Access to Boating for People with Disabilities The Need: People with disabilities like to go boating and fishing with their families. It is difficult for people with mobility impairments to safely get into and out of boats. Existing lift technology is not portable, so people can only go to specific places or use specific boats. SBIR Phase I Award from USDA BlueSky Designs was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I grant to develop portable technology to aid in transferring individuals into small watercraft such as canoes, motor boats, and sailboats. The Solution: Portable, accessible and affordable watercraft transfer technology will be developed to allow individuals with mobility impairments to more safely and easily participate in boating and fishing. Without transfer technology, it takes a minimum of two people to transfer someone into a boat, at considerable risk to both the person being transferred and the people lifting them. The universal design may be used by any boater to transfer children or heavy objects such as gas tanks, motors or coolers onto boats. It will improve access to boating for aging boaters, boaters with lifting restrictions, and people with disabilities. The portability will provide boaters with disabilities, their families and programs increased choices and flexibility as to where they boat. Phase I activities: Input into the design was solicited from boaters with disabilities, family members, and staff from accessible boating and canoeing programs. The technical design involved an iterative process of conceptual modeling, prototype construction, physical testing, and focus group feedback. Computer modeling of various boats, water levels and transfer mechanism designs ensured it will be able to be used in a wide range of circumstances. |
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