piano pedal final design report 2018-12-02breakme.dept.ku.edu/2016_pedal-pusher.pdf · final design...

FinalDesignReportforthePianoPedalPusherProjectThefinalproductwasdeliveredin2017andwasverywellreceivedandpublicized.SeetheVIDEOpageformoreinformation!Heidiisayoungpianoplayerwithcongenitalamputationsatbothkneesandbothelbows.Shebecamefrustratedwithnotbeingabletoreachthepianopedals,shereachedouttoKU.Ateamoffourundergraduateengineeringstudentstookonthechallengetodesignandbuildadevicethatwouldallowhertheabilitytousethepianopedalsassheplays.Theteamcameupwithtwopossibledesignsforthepianopedalpusher.Thesetwodesignsweredevelopedintotwofunctioningprototypes.Thefirstprototypedevicewillbereferredastothe“roddesign.”Thelengthoftherodisadjustable.Thisdesignwascreatedwiththeideaofmimickingthemotionofahumanankle/footpressingdownapedal.ThisdeviceiscomposedofarodthatisconnectedatthetopendtoastrapsecuredaroundHeidi’sthighandconnectedatthebaseendtoaclamp‐like‐device.Thisbasepartofthedevicehasaslabthatsitsonthefloorbeneaththepedaltoprovidestabilizationandoneslabthatsitsabovethepedal.Thetopslabisconnectedtothebottomslabatajointwithacompressionspringtokeepitfromclampingorpressingthepedaldownprematurely.Becauseofthecompressionspring,Heidiisabletorestherleg’sweightonthedevicewithoutitpressingthepedalprematurely.

Fig.1.Studentsassembletherodpusher(left)andHeidiusesitplaying(right).TheotherprototypedeviceisapulleysystemthatpressesthepedaldownasHeidiliftsherleg.Ithasaboxthatfitsoverasinglepianopedal.Theboxhasabarthatpushesonthepedal,setofcords,andapulleysystem.Thecordsareattachedtothe

FinalDesignReportforthePianoPedalPusherProjectThefinalproductwasdeliveredin2017andwasverywellreceivedandpublicized.SeetheVIDEOpageformoreinformation!baratoneend,runthroughapulley,andareattachedtoastrapthatissecuredaroundHeidi’sthigh.TheideabehindthisdesignwasthattherestingpositionofHeidi’slegwouldbeonthebench,soshewouldpullupwithherlegtopressthepedaldown.Thiswasthoughttobeanadvantagebecauseshewouldn’thavetoholdherlegupintheairbetweeneachpressingofthepedal.However,eventhoughthedeviceworkedgreatfromafunctionalstandpoint,theactionprovedtobeunnaturalforHeidiasshehadalwaysnotonlywatchedotherpianoplayerspressdowntousethepedals,buthadalsobeentryingdifferentapproachestopressdownonthepedalaswell.

Fig.2.Studentattachespulleylinestolegcuff(left)andHeidiplaysusingthepulleysystempedalpusher(right).Thestudentholdsthepusherboxdownfortheprototype,butthiswouldberesistedbyanextensiontothekeyboard.BothdevicesweredesignedwiththeabilitytoadjustaccordinglyasHeidicontinuestogrow.Theywerealsobothdesignedtobeportablesothattheycouldbetransferredfromherhometoherpianolessonsortoherrecitals.TheabilityforHeiditobeabletotransportandsetupthedevicewithminimalassistancewasalsotakenintoaccountforbothdevicedesigns.Theroddesignisthedevicewehavechosentomoveforwardwithinmanufacturingthefinalproduct.Heidiwasabletooperatethisdevicemuchmorenaturallyand

FinalDesignReportforthePianoPedalPusherProjectThefinalproductwasdeliveredin2017andwasverywellreceivedandpublicized.SeetheVIDEOpageformoreinformation!wasabletoincorporateitintoherpianoplayingalmostimmediatelyupontryingit,whilethepulleysystemdevicewasmoredifficultforhertooperate.TherodheightadjustmentmechanismisalsosimplertooperateandquickertoadjustallowingHeiditomoreimmediatelyadjustitforfactorsotherthangrowth,suchasadifferenceinpianobenchheight.TheroddesignisalsoeasierforHeiditotransportherselfaswellassimplerforhertosetupwithminimalassistance.ThefinalproductwasproducedinaluminumanddeliveredinFallof2017!Heidiwasveryhappywiththenewpianopedalpusherandquicklylearnedhowtouseit!!!Shehasbeeninspiredtoplaythepianomoreandisreallyenjoyinghernewsound!