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- ItemOpen AccessStepFree stair climber design(2025-06-19) Barteaux, Missy; Derksen, Patricia; Ilyas, Joshua; Sanderson, Lily; Wahid, Wardah; Jacobson, Natasha; Petkau, Don; White, James; Topping, AidanThe goal of this project was to develop a wheelchair stair climber to help manual wheelchair users navigate their environments safely and with greater ease. This device addresses the challenge that stairs pose to our client and other wheelchair users, who have difficulty accessing a variety of spaces due to the lack of accessible infrastructure. The StepFree stair climber, operated with assistance, improves accessibility for our client. During the design process the key requirements considered were smooth and stable operation, compatibility with different staircases and different wheelchairs, and affordability for the client. Additional criteria, such as cost, manufacturability, portability, force reduction ability, user comfort and safety were also evaluated. A tracked wheel design, inspired by high traction mechanisms like those in tanks excavators, best met these requirements. The StepFree stair climber consists of a dolly-like frame, in which, the user in their wheelchair is secured facing away from the stairs. The frame features tracked wheels which are fixed at an angle such that they can rest on the stairs and transport the device up or down. To achieve controlled and smooth movement up and down the stairs, a button-controlled motorized system, powered by a lithium-ion battery, was used. This system allows the user to be safely transported with minimal force required by the operator. The StepFree stair climber successfully passed the weight capacity test, carrying over 90 kg of weight without any detectable deflection. Additionally, the device met all collapsible size requirements and had an average device set up time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds, well within the desired time frame and the electrical housing proved to be water-resistant. The device was able to be adjusted to accommodate most wheelchairs tested in a width range of 40-70 cm. Unfortunately, the team was unable to test for the operator force input requirement, number of stairs accommodated and battery life under load, due to the tracks not rotating in the completed assembly. As a result, these tests were considered failed and reported in the verification procedure. The total project cost was $1,844, reflecting the expenses of a first-generation prototype. However, with industrial-scale manufacturing and custom-made parts, the final product price can be significantly reduced. In future iterations or modifications of this device, it is recommended that a lighter-weight track system and a more powerful motor be selected to better suit the application. A lighter material is recommended for the frame to increase ease of transport, and modifications to the frame and wheel bracket dimensions would increase the range of wheelchairs compatible with the device. By addressing this specific accessibility challenge, the StepFree stair climber has the potential to improve the lives of other manual wheelchair users facing challenges in similar environments.
- ItemOpen AccessHorizontal grain aeration testing and measurement system(2025-06-19) Wolfe, Annika; Maruhe, Mackdonald; Abosheloua, Mohamed; Le Heiget, Stephane; Jacobson, Natasha; Petkau, Don; White, James; Topping, AidanFarmers around Canada, specifically in Manitoba, predominantly utilize vertical grain aeration in their post-harvest grain storage systems to extend the storage life of the grain. Using horizontal aeration presents a more energy-efficient alternative to vertical aeration. However, manufacturers lack the information and theoretical calculations necessary to optimize the design of horizontal aeration systems. This means that despite its advantages, manufacturers remain hesitant to adopt horizontal systems due to insufficient data to inform their design. This project aimed to address this issue on behalf of Dr. Fuji Jian and the grain storage research group at the University of Manitoba. The project focused on creating a bench-scale device for testing and measuring air resistance in horizontal grain aeration systems. The device measures the performance of horizontal airflow through an aeration system that results from different types of grain and system configurations. Project deliverables included the constructed and verified device, and preliminary testing and data collection for future Ph.D. research and eventual industry application. The project's technical specifications were verified to ensure that the final prototype would meet the client's demands for a grain bin that could hold a load of grain and measure the performance of horizontal grain aeration. A structural design was carried out to ensure that the grain bin could hold a whole load of grain during operation. Other verifications included testing the radial airflow uniformity, whether vertical airflow is negligible, and adapting the grain bin to be used with various system configurations. The grain bin was found to satisfy all the criteria required by the client. The overall project successfully provided a method to measure horizontal grain aeration performance from the data collected. There are several recommendations for how to improve this project further. The main recommendation is to minimize instrumentation in the grain bin. A combination of pitot tubes and mass flow sensors were used to measure airflow. This combination provides highly detailed measurements, but the consequence is several disruptions to the airflow. Replacing or reducing the instrumentation disruption to the airflow would be reduced, producing higher quality results. Additionally, some operation procedure improvements are recommended to help future researchers transition to working with pilot-scale prototypes.
- ItemOpen AccessDevelopment of a rubber tire-derived asphalt binder product(2025-06-19) Harris, Abigail; Sutherland, Kate; Wainikka, Tori; Yarechewski, Zach; Jacobson, Natasha; Topping, Aidan; Petkau, Don; White, JamesThe processing of rubber tire waste poses significant health and environmental risks, while potholes pose safety risks to commuters and patches often provide a temporary and unreliable solution to roadway maintenance. The incorporation of rubber tire waste into pothole patches offers a sustainable solution to both problems. The use of rubber tire waste in asphalt pothole patches has shown improvement in structural properties. Improved structural properties include resistance to rutting, fatigue, thermal cracking, and high temperature failure. The main components of asphalt mixtures are aggregates and binder materials. Asphalt mixes have displayed success with modification of rubber for virgin components, such as aggregates and binder. Reliable Tire Recycling is a Manitoba company which converts rubber tire waste materials into value added products. This project explores the incorporation of crumb rubber obtained from Reliable Tire Recycling into an asphalt binder. Four (4) asphalt binder samples were prepared with high-speed shear mixing which included a virgin binder sample as a control and samples with varying quantities of crumb rubber and warm mix additives. Quality of rubber was confirmed to meet technical specifications for moisture content, fiber and metal content, and crumb rubber size prior to mixing. Following mixing, each sample was subjected to verification tests to quantify success. The tests displayed results for the rheological and mechanical properties of the binders. The properties indicate the binders’ performance at high temperatures, resistance to common modes of failure, and workability. The results displayed that an increase in rubber led to an increase in the viscoelastic properties. This indicates an improved resistance to rutting and fatigue failure. However, incorporation of warm mix additives increased viscosity more than double the binder mix at the same rubber quantity. This indicates poor workability of the mix with incorporations of warm mix additives. Further research on rubber use in asphalt binders for pothole patching is recommended. Additional testing should be conducted on rubber-modified binder samples to analyze cold temperature performance and the effects of long-term aging. It is recommended to mix and test more formulas with varying quantities of crumb rubber to optimize the results.
- ItemOpen AccessNRC – automated compost mixing tool(2025-06-19) Al-Fakih, Ayat; Odaisky, Danika; Patel, Karan; Ramos, Sam; Jacobson, Natasha; Petkau, Don; Topping, Aidan; White, JamesThe National Research Council (NRC) requires an automated compost stirring device to replace the current manual process used in its biodegradability testing of plastics. Lab technicians spend four hours each week manually mixing compost in 48 glass vessels, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and causes ergonomic hazards to technicians. The objective of this project is to automate the process by ensuring uniform mixing, reducing labor, and maintaining the integrity of the glass vessels used for testing. The design combines internal and external mechanisms for effective operation. The internal mechanism features a segmented auger to break compost clumps, a wiper blade to scrape compost from vessel walls, and a grate-holding sleeve to secure the metal grate and prevent scratches on the glass vessel, enabling mixing of compost with varying consistencies. The external mechanism consists of a motor with adjustable speeds, a secure clamping system, and a user-friendly control panel allowing a single operator to set up and mix all 48 vessels in under four hours. Users set up the device by assembling internal components, placing the vessel in the frame, lowering the motor-lid system, and activating the mixer via a speed-adjustable control, reducing manual effort to a simple, ergonomic process. The verification process confirmed the design’s success in achieving goals for durability, safety, cost, ease of use, and size. The device operates quietly and supports single operator use, significantly reducing manual effort while meeting key safety and operational requirements. Tests for compost uniformity and spillage tolerance require further evaluation due to clamping challenges at high speeds. This offers areas for engineering recommendations, such as improving automation and user-friendliness. The device improves the efficiency and reliability of biodegradability testing while reducing strain on lab technicians.
- ItemOpen AccessOptimizing soilless substrates and germination pods with Typha fiber(2025-06-19) Duha, Dylan; Mooney, Hannah; Dupuis, Janelle; Tremblay, Spencer; Jacobson, Natasha; Topping, Aidan; White, James; Petkau, DonThis report presents the development of a peat-free seed germination pod utilizing Typha-based soilless media. In collaboration with Typha Co., the project builds on prior research done by the 2024 Typha capstone team on optimizing Typha-based growing media. The objective of this project is to provide a sustainable alternative to peat-based seed germinations pods within the commercial floriculture industry. The project focused on improving the Typha-based media by incorporating soil amendments including perlite, pine fibre, and biochar. A six-week growth trial of petunia seedlings was conducted in a hydroponic wall system to assess the impact of these amendments on plant growth. Twelve different compositions of amended Typha-based media were tested against conventional growth substrates. Additionally, 11 technical specifications were identified to evaluate how the chemical and physical properties of amended Typha-based media compare to those of peat. Primary technical specifications include water holding capacity, nitrogen immobilization, and pH. The research also investigated the feasibility of forming Typha-based media into seed germination pods by application of a binding agent. Agar, yucca powder, molasses, and flaxseed mucilage were tested as binding agents during seed pod design. Binder performance was evaluated by structural integrity, impact resistance, and rehydration properties of the seed pod to ensure durability during transportation and usability in greenhouse settings. Growth trials showed that [REDACTED]. Further testing for the manufacturing process is recommended. By leveraging Typha’s nutrient retention and release properties, this project provides a sustainable media alternative for floriculture consumers, while also contributing to the ecological restoration of Lake Winnipeg. The development of a cost-effective solution has the potential for wide-scale adoption, reducing reliance on peat and its environmental impact. This approach aligns with the growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, offering both environmental and economic benefits.