An automated wheelchair ramp, designed to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to enter HDB units which have steps at the entrance, is one of the projects featured at SP’s Engineering Show 2016. The wheelchair elevator, which took five final-year students in SP’s Diploma of Aeronautical Engineering about eight months to develop, costs less than $3,000. The project could benefit residents of about 75,000 HDB units in Jurong, Bukit Batok, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio and Tampines which have steps at the entrances. Project team leader Dylan Conceicao, 19, said: “Older HDB units have about three steps leading to the front of the house and they pose a problem for wheelchair users such as the elderly and disabled. Older HDB units were designed with steps at the door for privacy, according to Mr Conceicao. He added that the machine can be used in other places too. “It is a lift to cross a flight of steps, and can be implemented in shopping centres, bus stops or bus interchanges – anywhere that needs wheelchair access.”... Continue Reading