Self Mobility Solution for the Paraplegic

1. Saarthi
Domain: Product Innovation, Prototyping and System Design
Project Mentor: Prof. Puneet Tandon
Timeline: 3 years (Phase 1 and phase 2)
Team: Variable teams for each team
Project Partners
Phase 1
Phase 2

2. What is Saarthi?
What started as a design project in college slowly took shape into the design and development of a fully functional
electric vehicle. Saarthi kept on evolving in two phases over time.
We started working on a service to provide an electric
self-mobility solution for the citizens of Jabalpur while
contributing to the economic growth of the city.
We conceived this project alongside the non-motorised
transportation network project by Smart City Jabalpur but
could not get approval for implementation.
Phase 1
In partnership with GIAN and Freedomwheels, I finally got
the opportunity to develop the phase 1 to a manufacturable
state. This solution was finally implemented and the journey
of ‘Saarthi’ was now complete.
Phase 2

3. Phase 1
Introduction
For a design project, we were required to work on any of the live projects being undertaken by the Smart City Jabalpur.
Post a couple of meetings with the authorities, we learnt that the organisation is planning to cap all open sewage water
networks and create non-motorised transport corridors above it. This corridor would be developed towards the
promotion of fitness, local businesses and a green ecosystem. We were made aware of the distance of these corridors
ranging from 8 to 13 km which is a large distance to travel on foot or cycles.
Design Brief
To design a smart eco transport system for the non-motorised corridors being built in Jabalpur. This system should
generate revenue for the city and become a signature attraction for incoming tourists.
Design Process
Discover
Observation
Stakeholder interviews
Define
Mind maps
Affinity mapping
Personas
Stakeholder analysis
Develop
Ideation
Deliver
Prototyping
Feedback
Pitch

5. Opportunity Statement
The current non-motorised transportation involves the rickshaws where a human carries passengers with his physical
effort leading to high physiological strain.
Misuse, lack of adequate infrastructure and poor accessibility make the introduction of services like rentable bicycles a
failure on the government level.
How might we provide a self-driven, safe and sustainable transportation system for the citizens of
Jabalpur and contribute to the economic development of the city by creating employment?
1

6. Functional requirements of the Electric Vehicle
The Concept
1

7. Branding
1

8. Display and Control for the Vehicle
Aim: To make control of the vehicle intuitive, simple and extremely safe.
1

9. TheNewSystem
Firsttimeuser+PWD
Returninguser
1

10. TheNewSystem
Operationalendofservice:
Batterymaintenance
Emergencysituation
1

11. 1

12. Phase 2
What?
In 2019 during my thesis research on the topic of mitigation of exclusion, I came across a startup called
Freedomwheels in Ahmedabad. Freedomwheels was started by Mr Jignesh Shah to provide low-cost mobility solutions
for people with motor disability like himself.
This startup was being mentored by GIAN, an NGO providing incubation support to grassroots innovators through whom
I got in tough with Freedomwheels. They were planning to develop a product on similar lines as Saarthi and our vision of
what the solution should be resonated. I worked with Mr Jignesh Shah for the next 8 months to finally get to build
Saarthi.
Introduction
The physically handicapped communities in India have been suffering from a lot of atrocities in the context of mobility.
They are often bound to wheelchairs or assistive devices which provides them with an extent of freedom but are often
restricted to virtual yet physical boundaries.
My Role
This project was undertaken as a partnership between different organisations. I handled this project alone.My
responsibilities included product design, manufacturing feasibility, management of paperwork for the funding authority,
building proposals for some innovation competitions and management of full-scale prototyping of the vehicle.

13. Innovation Enterprise Investment
The Designer
Philosophy Incubation Prototyping Funding Technical Support
Freedomwheels
Role of an Incubator: GIAN
Startup Gujrat
2Innovation Incubation (The Honeybee Network Philosophy)
Innovations for the grassroots communities are peculiar in nature as they mostly lie with people with a narrow horizon.
After two failures with Saarthi, I realised that the implementation of Saarthi is not an individual but a collective effort.
There is a need for three different bodies to collaborate to bring out a sustainable business ecosystem for the
innovation to succeed in the market.
This marriage of innovation, enterprise, investment has to happen at an institution which in real meaning acts as an
‘Innovation Incubation Network’.
Organisations Involved

14. Design Process
Immersion
Freedomwheels
Previous work
Literature review
User Research
Mechanisms
Government regulations
Ideation
Scope definition
Functional requirements
Mood boarding
Sketching
Soft mockups
3D Modelling
Implimentation
Expert feedback
Stress testing
Prototype planning
1:1 Fabrication
Testing strategy
2

15. Freedomwheels
Freedomwheels was established by Mr Jignesh Shah to provide low-cost mobility
solutions for people with motor disability like himself.
He imports wheelchairs from China to sell in the Indian market.
He believes in direct sales to the customer as a part of his sales strategy and is
an example of 'Mobility by differently-abled for differently-abled'.
He has the mind of an innovator and has been awarded for his ‘Modified
two-wheeler vehicle for specially-abled’ by the National Innovation Foundation.
Previous Work
2

16. Inferences of Research
The low-cost mobility products in the international market are very narrow.
Additional features are offered through modified versions of the products on
the right. The paraplegic in India have a very small income and have major
financial restrictions.
Limitation of these devices:
High cost
Low range
Low speed
The terrain has to be even
Transfer from a wheelchair requires assistance
Not permissible on roads
The modified automobiles for the differently-abled are expensive
2

17. Mechanisms
Avehicleaccessibletothewheelchair-boundshouldhavecertainminimalfunctions.
2

18. Opportunity Statement
How might we create a more accessible, economic and desirable mode of personal mobility for the differently-abled to
be able to drive on the Indian roads with pride?
Scope Deffinition
The desired and permissible speed range is around 15-25 km/hr. This vehicle has to be authorised by the ARAI to drive
on the roads. The technical components will be sourced from China to meet the cost brackets. The prototype would be
developed in Ahmedabad on which additional features would be built and subsequently tested.
Functional Requirements
Speed Limit: 20-25 Km/h
Load Capacity: 150Kg
Dimension: 2X1 meter
Purpose: Self Mobility for wheelchair-bound
Distance of usage: Around 40-50 km
Features: Slope for access, weatherproofing
Feel: Weatherproof, Safety, Freedom
2

19. Mood Boarding
To understand aesthetics, I created a mood board and used it as a reference for further exploration. This mood board
aims to bring emotional values in the later process.
2

20. Ideation
Deep exploration was done with the form, features, experience of the vehicle, etc.
2

21. Soft Mockups
To bring a perspective of the look and feel of a few of the more refined ideas, I created some mockups using simple
material like paper, cardboard, straw, etc.
2

22. 3D Modelling
The next step was to digitally bring these ideas to reality.
Concept 1: More on the minimal side this concept can be manufactured at a very low cost. However, safety would be a
major compromise hence we chose to move to the covered concepts.
2

23. Concept 2: The final concept optimised according to manufacturing process and complexity. Some renders are
presented here to give a context of the various components.
2

24. 2

25. 2

26. Sequence of Usage
The way to use the ramp of the vehicle is illustrated here.
2
1
4
2
5
3

27. Manufacturing Plan
Once the concept was ready and approved, I moved towards planning for manufacturing. I identified pipe bending
fabricators who agreed to attempt this prototype. We then set up a makeshift fabrication setup at the Freedomwheels
office and built the chassis in about a month.
For simplicity of explanation, I got the chassis 3d printed to scale. The pipe bender did a great job with this as a
reference and the drawings of the individual pipe segments.
2

28. I named individual pipes and sent detailed measurement and bending details to the fabricator
2

29. The Fabrication
Along with Mr Surjeet Rathore, a mechanical engineer from NIF and two assistants, I slowly built the chassis.
2

30. I could complete the chassis in the time frame of a month and then my internship at
GIAN ended. Freedom wheels took this forward to develop the vehicle.

31. Future Scope
This prototype once complete shall be driven on different terrain at different variables such as:
a. Terrain: highway, slope, parking spaces, village roads
b. Variables: speed, load, charge in the battery
c. Ramp testing for open-close, the maximum load for failure
Based on this data, the pricing and features of the vehicle would be decided
Patent application to be done on the name of Mr Jignesh Shah
Application for the subsidy of the vehicle to the government has to be done
Valuable Learnings
I was given a big responsibility of handling a project of such a scale by myself. I learnt to collaborate with engineers,
NGO staff and fabricators in a way to keep them motivated towards the end goal.
The concept of Innovation Incubation Network was an important perspective to plan an innovative product development
A philosophy from honeybee network touched my heart. The idea of which is to contribute to the upliftment of
innovation at the grassroots level with no expectation of any sort. I did not charge for this project and also did not take
any credit in the ownership of the technology. As a designer, this is the least I can do to contribute to better development
of India and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
I learnt that a business idea takes time to develop and mature. As a designer trying to step into entrepreneurship, one
must not give up if you believe in yourself. One should keep on working towards improving the idea and keep an open
eye for people whom you can work with and pivot your idea into a successful business.