The country’s first prototype car adapted for driving by people with disabilities, which CPUT unveiled recently, is competing for showcasing when Cape Town hosts World Design Capital (WDC) 2014 projects and events.

Following the very successful Disability Driving Expo held in March at the Cape Town Campus, the project’s team submitted the project to promote Universal Design awareness during WDC 2014.

“The project aligns elegantly with the WDC 2014 overall theme of “Live Design; Transform Life,” says the project’s head, Design Professor Mugendi M’Rithaa.”

Nicky’s Drive, the NGO which inspired the project, in partnership with Disabled People South Africa, submitted the project to the curatorial committee of Cape Town Design Pty – the company that is charged with the responsibility of implementing the WDC 2014 programme.

The team is awaiting feedback from the committee as the second round closes in July.

“We remain optimistic as our submission offers a unique perspective on the needs of drivers with disabilities by enabling their aspirations for mobility through the transformative potential of Universal Design in promoting inclusion of all people, irrespective of their ability,” says Mugendi.

The CPUT students from the Departments of Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, who created the innovation, are now fine-tuning the adaptations that were developed for the prototype and simulator for the unveiling.

“We look forward to having the vehicle tried and tested by early 2014, ready for WDC 2014,” he enthuses.

“Our participation in this project is in response to the challenge by Dr Chris Nhlapo, CPUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, that we demonstrate the attributes of the ‘new academic’ – wherein scholars produce applied research that translates into pertinent innovations that contribute to our collective pool of intellectual property.”

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News

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CPUT is using innovation to accomplish disability inclusivity with its Informatics and Design as well as Engineering faculties collaborating to build a car adapted for people with disabilities.

This pioneering project is headed by Professors Mugendi M’Rithaa (Department of Design) and Oscar Philander (Adaptronics/Engineering).

The project is linked to Nicky’s Drive, a registered non-profit organisation founded in 2011 by Nicky Abdinor. The organisation aims to fund car adaptations for people with disabilities within South Africa.

CPUT is working with Nicky to further develop the sophisticated technology she uses to drive.Her physical limitations only allow her to drive using a joystick hydraulic steering system with her right shoulder.

Unfortunately, the technology for such a steering system is not available in South Africa and her vehicle was adapted in the United Kingdom. “I initiated a fundraising project to plan for the future – I knew that one day I would need to have a replacement vehicle adapted in the UK,” she says.

Nicky's new car project will be on show during the CPUT Disability Driving Expo which will take place on 7 March 2013.

The CPUT Disability Unit recently held a meeting where the project’s team briefed guests from the disability industry and other partners about the progress it has made on the car.

The team, which includes some BTech students from the two departments, told the guests that a great deal of work has gone into the project and assured Nicky that her car will be ready in February.

Prof M’Rithaa says the project bodes well with CPUT’s strategic objectives of enhancing social good, producing innovative products that have a potential Intellectual Property and that the project will be shared with the whole world in 2014 when Cape Town hosts the World Design Capital.

Kwanele Butana.

Written by CPUT News
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