Design Optimization of Stair Climbing Cart for Developing Countries

Abstract Most of the people living in developing or less developed countries have limited earning to provide somehow their basic needs & usual staff. Carrying goods is a regular task in life & several products have been invented to minimize efforts in this purpose. But the product’s price & features are not optimum for the people of fewer earnings. Stair climbing cart is very useful for those houses where a lift is not available and goods have to be carried frequently upstairs. In this research, the mechanical design has been modified so that the manufacturing cost can be minimized. Finite element analysis has been performed upon the design to find out how the manufacturing cost can be reduced by making the design optimal for manufacturing cost and process. The result shows that the structural members should not be processed further because any tooling operation will require an extra machine as well as an extra cost. Only the wheels are possible to subject under optimization by reducing material as well as weight. This article will be a valuable asset for the mass manufacturers of this type of product.

[1]  Lin Zhang,et al.  An Optimization Design for the Stair-Climbing Wheelchair , 2012 .

[2]  Jongwon Kim,et al.  Optimal design of hand-carrying rocker-bogie mechanism for stair climbing , 2013 .

[3]  The Manufacturer's Trade-Off between Raw Material Quality and Total Cost - With Hog Supply Chains' Feed Quality Selection Strategy for Example , 2011, 2011 International Conference on Management and Service Science.

[4]  Patrick W. Jordan,et al.  Human factors in product design : current practice and future trends , 1999 .

[5]  Karl T. Ulrich,et al.  Product Design and Development , 1995 .

[6]  Md Zahid Hasan,et al.  Design and Finite Element Analysis of an Eight Wheel Stair Climbing Cart , 2019 .

[7]  Wesley E. Woodson,et al.  Human factors design handbook : information and guidelines for the design of systems, facilities, equipment, and products for human use , 1981 .

[8]  J. Barney.  Strategic Factor Markets: Expectations, Luck, and Business Strategy , 1986 .

[9]  P. Jordan.  Designing Pleasurable Products: An Introduction to the New Human Factors , 2000 .

[10]  H. Wee,et al.  Lean supply chain and its effect on product cost and quality: a case study on Ford Motor Company , 2009 .

[11]  Ankur Gupta,et al.  Novel design of stair climbing wheelchair , 2018 .

[12]  R. Hague *,et al.  Material and design considerations for rapid manufacturing , 2004 .

[13]  Rina Maiti,et al.  Manual lifting load limit equation for adult Indian women workers based on physiological criteria , 2004, Ergonomics.

[14]  Barry Tillman,et al.  HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN HANDBOOK: INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF SYSTEMS, FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN USE. SECOND EDITION , 1992 .

[15]  C. Nicolay,et al.  Grip strength and endurance: Influences of anthropometric variation, hand dominance, and gender , 2005 .

[16]  Yong-Ku Kong,et al.  Comparison of comfort, discomfort, and continuum ratings of force levels and hand regions during gripping exertions. , 2012, Applied ergonomics.

[17]  P. Jordan.  Human factors for pleasure in product use. , 1998, Applied ergonomics.

[18]  W. Green,et al.  Pleasure with Products: Human Factors for Body, Mind and Soul , 1999 .