• The

    IKROBO

    is an acronym for ‘I Care Robo’, a flexible multifunctional battery based wheelchair that helps physically handicapped people accomplish many of their normal daily activities without much assistance from their caregivers.

  • The

    IKROBO

    Many physically challenged individuals have motor disability preventing them from using a wheelchair with conventional access methods. The IKROBO© plans to develop a voice or touch interface which allows the users to command the wheelchair to navigate automatically to predetermined spots like kitchen, bedroom, etc.

  • The

    IKROBO

    Durham College is working with the local industry, not-for-profit and government organizations to the benefit of the local community.

  • The

    IKROBO

    Eye tracking is the measurement of eye activity while looking at surroundings. The process of tracking eye activity is quite complex and the IKROBO© team is working hard to make use of the eye tracking technology for not only controlling the chair but also to improve the usage of Wheeltainment©.

  • The

    IKROBO

    The increasing physically challenged population due to aging, accidents, other diseases such as paralysis makes nursing care more difficult in Canada. The key for this physically challenged population to improve its quality of life is to develop a multifunctional wheelchair fitted with health monitoring gadgets..

  • The

    IKROBO

    The wheelchair reduces the amount of labor required from nursing staff while enabling the wheelchair user with the ability of self-care. Users are able to see others at eye level rather than having to look up.

About Us:


The IKROBO© is an acronym for ‘I Care Robo’ a flexible multifunctional battery based wheelchair that helps assist the physically handicapped people to do many of their normal daily activities without much assistance from their caregivers.

The IKROBO© provides a cost effective solution to individuals at home as well as patients in the hospitals. We are a small team of highly knowledgeable researchers, skilled designers, and enthusiasts who have come together to make this remarkable contribution for the benefit of society. The team consists of the following people:


Faculty:


   Rao Gorantla

     Professor, Electronics Faculty (Project coordinator): Overall concept design, project scheduling, funding and partnerships,      industrial liaising, website & promotions and recruitment & procumbent.
     Email: rao.gorantla@durhamcollege.ca





   Pravin Patel

     Professor, Electronics Faculty (Electronics coordinator): Resources, equipment, testing, and student placement projects.
     Email: pravin.patel@durhamcollege.ca






   Chris Daniel

     Professor, Mechanical Engineering Faculty : Mechanical structures design, safety, CAD designs, alterations & assembly,      testing, project integration via objectives with the Mechanical Engineering Technology program outcomes, liaising with      Biomedical Coordinator and Electronics Coordinator.
     Email: chris.daniel@durhamcollege.ca






   Sandra Kudla

     Professor, Biomedical Engineering Faculty : Biomedical gadget designs, safety, pathological signal processing and building      circuits, alterations & assembly, testing, integrating the project objectives with the Biomedical Engineering Technology      program outcomes, liaising with Mechanical Coordinator and Electronics Coordinator.
     Email: sandra.kudla@durhamcollege.ca






   Philip Jarvis

     Professor, Electronics Faculty : Electrical and electronics gadget designs, safety, command &control coding, alterations &      assembly, internet interfacing, testing, integrating the project objectives with the Electronics Engineering and Technology      program outcomes, liaising with Mechanical Coordinator and Biomedical Coordinator.
     Email: philip.jarvis@durhamcollege.ca






   Lauren Fuentes

     Professor, Electronics Faculty : Electrical and electronics gadget designs, safety, command &control coding, alterations &      assembly, internet interfacing, testing, integrating the project objectives with the Electronics Engineering and Technology      program outcomes, liaising with Mechanical Coordinator and Biomedical Coordinator.
     Email: lauren.fuentes@durhamcollege.ca





Students:


Wheelchair Manufacturing

Brent Lessard

Mechanical Engineering Technology
Email: brent.lessard@gmail.com

Ben Stulen

Mechanical Engineering Technology
Email: n/a

Wheelchair Movement

Jyotirmoy Roy Chowdhury

Electronics Engineering Technology
Email: n/a

Eye Tracking

Brad Dundas

Mechtronics
Email: brad.dundas@dcmail.ca

Matt Bryan

Mechtronics
Email: bryamatt@gmail.com

Aaron Leclair

Mechtronics
Email: leclairaaron@gmail.com


Path Following

Kenneth Gardner

Electronics Engineering Technology
Email: kenneth.p.gardner@gmail.com

Ryan Borg-Verowoerd

Electronics Engineering Technology
Email: ryanbverwoerd@gmail.com

Kyle Aus

Electronics Engineering Technology
Email: kyle_aus@live.ca

Health Information

Thomas Sanders

Mechtronics
Email: thomas.sanders7777@gmail.com

Ian Sharpe

Electronics Engineering Technology
Email: gandalf4000@hotmail.com

Web Development

Nicholas Russell

Mechtronics
Email: nick.russelll@gmail.com

Obstacle Clearing(Future)

Fareh Hussain

Biomedical Engineering Technology
Email: fareh.hussain@dcmail.ca

Lucy Yu

Biomedical Engineering Technology
Email: lucyyu007@gmail.com


Acknowledgements:


I am very thankful for the Office of Research Services & Innovation, Durham College especially Debbie McKee Demczyk for funding this project and also Sue Todd, Dean of School of Sciences and Engineering Technology for her encouragement.

The work on this project cannot be completed without the tireless efforts of my colleagues and a number of students, who work at the expenses of their personal time and also take time off to attend research work meetings at the click of an email.

Thank you all for your contributions! I would also like to extend thanks to the supporting staff: Megan Parker, the Office of Research Services & Innovation, Dave Mackay, Electronics Engineering, and Gary Pratt, Facilities in the school of Sciences and Engineering Technology who supported the project through their efforts and advice.



Dr Rao Gorantla

Project Coordinator