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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SIRENA (Novel electric stair climber to break barriers in transport of disabled people and goods through a safe, quick and comfortable movement)

Teaser

Summary

The Challenge: Climbing up and down stairs is one of the most difficult and restrictive challenges for people with disabilities. One of six people in EU has a disability. 10-20% of them face barriers and reduced accessibility. 70 million people globally need a wheelchair. Over a third of people aged over 75 have disabilities.
Our solution: SIRENA, the only transportable electric stair climber able to guarantee the meeting of the everyday social needs. A transportable and universal solution able to climb any type of stairs (step height 0 to 24 cm, slope up to 85%, round edge) in a quick (30 step/min), safe and comfortable way.
TGR is an Italian company with more than 40 years of experience in the field of stair climbers. Over 50,000 people with reduced mobility have benefitted from our products improving their welfare. With SIRENA we want to become a technological reference among stair climbers with a unique and universal solution able to climb any type of stairs in a quick, safe and comfortable way, improving the living conditions of millions of citizens in Europe and around the world. Competitorsâ€™ devices cannot guarantee a stable movement or climb any type of stair, whereas the stability offered by SIRENA on the stairs -even when inclined- is succeeded through the exclusive innovation introduced by TGR.
The main objective of this H2020 SMEi phase 2 project is to ensure that TGR meets the technical, commercial, regulatory and financial requirements for a successful industrialization and commercialization of SIRENA from 2020. While completing the testing of the final prototype, finalizing the design, determining IPR and obtaining all necessary certifications, we will prepare the commercialization of SIRENA. We will reach our end users (persons who, because of a trauma, disease or age, are not autonomous in their movements) through our consolidated commercial network and new commercial channels (associations of disabled, nursing homes, pharmacies).
In addition, we identified a complementary market opportunity in the transport of freight, with regard to construction sites, carriers, transporters, food and drinks sector and gradually, also funeral homes. We plan to adapt SIRENA to heavy and large objects to enter this market, which is already demanding safer and more durable devices.
SIRENA will contribute to a smarter global mobility, promote social tourism and break barriers in the transport of disabled people and goods.

Work performed

Our main objective for the first period was to evaluate all technical specifications of the prototype (small tracks) mechanism. Specific attention was paid to safety parameters and systems on the supporting wheeled-stand releasing system, to avoid any possible release of the system eventually caused by bumps or interference with unexpected objects at ground by chance during device operation on flat surfaces.
All necessary tests were carried out and we obtained very positive results. In this regard, our modifications and upgrades resulted effective. With the occasion, we will also investigate the possibility to implement the operation of the wheeled-stand with a mechanical release system.
The following step was to guarantee higher performance, integrating the possibility to load as many types of wheelchairs as possible. Taking the opportunity of national and international trade-shows, a number of new wheelchairs releases was examined. This study resulted in the enlargement of the excursion offered by wheelchairâ€™s wheel support that was slightly raised up. This makes the SIRENA even more versatile and capable to be implemented into more diverse types of wheelchairs and on a whole, a higher number of wheelchairs.
For the new mechanical system, the efforts were redirected and focused on the small rubber tracks version which is more responsive to the needs of our customers in terms of safety aspects. It was then started the finalization of the mechanical system with rubber track motion system that was another technology already available in TGR, but to be further improved in order to become even more effective. Moreover, we keep studying a more effective and easy system for the horizontal displacement on landings. To this purpose, our Head Engineer is aiming to integrate a small wheel system into the actual frame, to be taken out only during displacement, at attendantâ€™s choice. The final version of this â€œretractile wheels systemâ€ destined to horizontal displacement will be finalized soon.
Inspired from latest safety updates introduced in our Scoiattolo 2000, mobile stairway climber with wheels, our engineers decided to apply the system for electronic incline reading also on the SIRENA. This system automatically reads and records the inclination of the stairway climber during operation on stairways and, in case the inclination becomes unsafe, warns the attendant by an acoustic alarm. This beeper system warns the attendant to correct the driving position promptly. Since for SIRENA a deep analysis of technical and safety system was anyway necessary, we decided to equip also this prototype with an electronic board specifically meant to govern and read an inclinator. Once all the above was made effective, a new prototype was assembled, as to be able to fully test the latest version of the prototype once more. The Technical folder of the latest release will include the following:
3D Drawings
Resistance calculations of wheelchair fastening frame and calculation report.
Testing according to relevant international directives and ISO standards.

Final results

ur aim and effort is, to overcome all the problems associated with the previous solutions (comfortability, adaptability to any kind of stair, transportability and cost) and to allow people having a satisfactory mobility and enjoy social life beyond their domestic environment. With SIRENA, we aim at becoming a technological reference among mobile stair climbers with a unique and universal solution able to climb any type of stairs (step height 0 to 24 cm, slope up to 85% and round edges) in a quick (30 step/min), and comfortable way and with the possibility to take it wherever needed. Thanks to an innovative climbing system, we will provide an outstanding device which will disrupt into the European market and worldwide.
They key of this innovating system lies into a small rubber track system that is capable to read and adapt to each step as if it was a wheels system but eliminating all safety issues usually connected to it. Systems with wheels require an aware, self-confident, well trained attendant to which it is usually addressed the majority of the responsibility.
This new concept is capable to mitigate this situation delivering versatility, allowing to climb also winding and rounded stairways, providing more stability, grip and safety.