Project Background

With advanced engineering making more of an impact in the field of exercise and rehabilitation, our design group is focused on developing an device that alleviates stability and comfort issues which arise for many when it comes to the simple acts of walking distances, hiking, and jogging. Getting adequate exercise should be an enjoyable experience and often times, it is difficult to place jogging in the same category as riding a bicycle simply because it requires the ability to support your body weight entirely on your own. This proves to be a difficult task for a wide range of people. This problem has required us to explore the engineering principles behind bicycle design, in regards to both material science and steering dynamics, and apply them to a three-wheeled apparatus geared toward providing stability to a person while running.

The inspiration for the project came to us from a professor of interdisciplinary disability studies here at the University of Maine. She needs a device to assist her with balance while walking and jogging. Because she remains adamant about staying in peak physical condition and doing so with well designed equipment, we took on the task of establishing a healthy combination of careful engineering and aesthetic design. The aim was to build a product that appeals not only to those with targeted disabilities but simply to anyone who is looking for a new and exciting way to exercise that relieves pressure on the joints and provides stability. Such criteria challenged us to experiment with different materials and methods of manufacturing to achieve a sleek appearance. In the end, the overall objective was to be left with a much improved product on two levels; functionality and marketability. The success of this project was measured by the ultimate reward of getting to witness Dr. Depoy run outside for the first time in years in the Healthy High 5k race at the University of Maine.

Future Prospects

It became increasingly clear to us throughout the design process that this marks only the beginning for the Jogger, especially after seeing all the positive attention it has attracted over the last month. While we successfully achieved what we set out to accomplish in the scope of a senior capstone project, there remains room for vast improvement. The notion that the Jogger can considerably reduce the stresses endured by the human body while running could have major future implications. Such implications could range from recreational uses to serving as a powerful rehabilitation tool, potentially helping elite athletes to continue training while minimizing wear and tear on the body, thus potentially prolonging their careers. Our suggestions for future work can be reviewed in the Conclusions and Recommendations section of the Final Report page of this website. 

           
            From left to right: Andrew Jacques, Alex Foster, Professor Depoy, Joseph Passarelli, Tom Ciampa