Wounded Wheels Restoring Heroes and Hot Rods Wounded Wheels - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

“Restoring Heroes and Hot Rods”

Wounded Wheels

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Th The e big Th Three ee

• Engineering and design concepts applied to commonly available resources

that provide accessibility in new ways

• The manifestation of some of these concepts are demonstrated in a 1970

Chevelle SS

• A forum for bringing together people, concepts, innovators, needs and

solutions to pave a way into the future for creating things that have never been created

• Living quarters
• Vehicles
• Quality of life environments

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

WHO WHO A AND ND WHA WHAT T WE WE ARE

• A federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization
• Modifying iconic American muscle cars
• Intended recipients are paralyzed and multiple major amputee combat vets
• Targeting warriors from the Vietnam War through the present-day Southwest

Asia operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

• The program is open to all who qualify

To build disabled heroes an unforgettable muscle car that is:

• Wheelchair accessible and operational
• Outfitted with a modified powered wheelchair
• Tailored to the vet’s specific needs
• Provides swift vehicle entry and exit without assistance
• Operated by user friendly controls

Our wish is to provide a vehicular mobility degree-of-freedom similar to individuals without disabilities and profoundly change the lives of these selfless heroes by returning to them the ability to drive the car of their dreams. At Wounded Wheels our motto is “Restoring Heroes and Hot Rods” one car, one hero, one dream at a time.

mission ssion

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

• Enemy use of IEDs results in increased numbers of lower-limb amputations
• The effect of these injuries is far-reaching and long-lasting
• Military amputee care focuses on short-term and intermediate care
• Current options for transport sacrifice the “WOW” factor for functionality
• Wounded Wheels aims to return a level of confidence and independence

to wheelchair bound vets by restoring access to desirable vehicles

Co Conc ncept ept ov

• ver

erview view

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

• Typically a stock van modified to accommodate a wheelchair
• Two configurations
• Config 1. Occupant drives in through the rear hatch via ramp or lift
• Wheel chair acts as passenger seat
• Config 2. Wheel chair occupant transfers into vehicle seat
• Wheel chair loads separately
• Ingress / egress is time consuming and strenuous
• Not a preferred vehicle for styling / appearance

Presen esent t day y mod

• dified

fied ve vehi hicl cles es

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

• Recipient selection

2 weeks

• Vehicle acquisition

5 weeks

• Parts acquisition and vehicle rehabilitation

10 weeks

• Suspension & drive train modification

10 weeks

• Chassis modification

8 weeks

• Conversion system Installation

5 weeks

• Body work, paint, interior

5 weeks

• Vehicle assembly

5 weeks

• Platform testing & evaluation

2 weeks

• Estimated time for full conversion

1 year

* Build timeline determined for a conversion vehicle that starts in no less than level 2 (Show) quality

Sta tand ndard ard Build ld Ti Timelin eline* e*

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

• Must have complete loss of the use of both legs as applicable to driving a

normal four wheel vehicle

• A general medical classification of eligible applicants is as follows:
• Tetraplegics who have the loss of the use of both legs
• Bilateral above-the-knee amputees, other major limb amputations
• Must have been an active duty US military veteran serving in a combat zone at

the time of the mishap

• If discharged, must have been discharged honorably
• Must meet general moral and ethical standards
• All applicants to be reviewed by a panel of military and Wounded Wheels staff
• A DoD flag officer or SES equivalent will select awardees

rec ecipien ipients ts

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Features

• 1970 Chevelle SS
• Recently restored
• 350 Small block
• Automatic on the column
• A/C

Cu Current ent build ld

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Repairs/upgrades

• Power steering system leaks sealed
• Brakes from front drum to disc

In the beginning there was a Chevelle, and it was good

Feb ‘12 we purchased a 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS for the prototype design integration for the Wounded Wheels program. Join us on a journey of turning a muscle car into a fully automated handicap drivable muscle car.

Creation of a Third Door

Our first problem: There was not enough room to get a wheelchair into the Chevelle with the current door configuration. Solution: We cut into the driver’s side rear quarter in front of the wheel well to create a third door.

In the drIver’s seat

Our Second Problem: There was not enough height in the Chevelle for

• ur chair to fit in the driver’s

spot. Solution: We cut into the floor and created a modified floor section and platform to lower the wheelchair into the driver’s spot.

Ramping It up

Our Third Problem: How does the wheelchair get into and out of the Chevelle? Solution: We added a servo-actuated ramp and it took a several attempts. Trial ramp #4 is seen above and trial ramp #6 is to the right. Trial ramp #8 is currently on the car and trial ramp #9 is in the works.

System Integration

We’ve had many challenges in creating this amazing vehicle, but if it were an easy thing to do, someone would have already done it. Several other modifications were made to the Chevelle to make it

• complete. They include a new door

latch for the third door as well as the driver door and interior controls for the third door and the ramp.

The Pros and the Cons

Cons ns of the e Muscle cle Car…

• Not everyone wants one
• It’s not as convenient as a mini-van
• Headroom during ingress and

egress and degree of difficulty are suboptimal

• No airbags
• It has poor gas mileage
• It’s not a family car
• It isn’t as comfortable as other cars
• It may not be great in bad weather
• It’s heavy

Pros of the Muscle Car…

For The Individual

• It provides a sense of what was
• It returns them to a better time
• It creates some normalcy in their life in

ways unavailable to them before now For The Car

• It’s powerful and sexy
• It’s fun in ways that a minivan can’t touch
• It’s an iconic American muscle car

For The Future

• It’s blazing the trail for new ideas
• It’s the first in a future of product

developments that pushes the envelope

• It’s creating new avenues for better ways
• f life

Prototype and Production

This is a first generation prototype. Below are lists for what we have completed and put into production.

Prototype

• Automated ramp
• Automated table
• Track guide system
• Floor drop system
• Basic internal hand control system

for automation

• Basic external hand control

System for automation

• Third door latching system

Production

• Base Chevelle
• Base powered chair
• Driver hand controls

Future Components

Below are lists for what we will complete in future generations of this process.

Wound unded ed Wheels eels Mods ds

• Wireless RC for ramp/door(s)/table
• Resized ramp: modify to fit below the

drivers head when folded into the car

• Driver and chair restraints
• Powered chair that raises, lowers, and tilts
• Powered chair that charges off of the car
• Better back seat configuration
• Head restraints
• And many things we haven’t thought of

Car Modif dific ication ations

• Remote control mirrors
• Power windows
• Tilt column
• Airbag vehicle drop system
• Courtesy light system
• Backup cameras

Fund raising efforts

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Ways to Find out More

Website: www.woundedwheels.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/woundedwheels Twitter: www.twitter.com/woundedwheels YouTube: www.youtube.com/woundedwheels

Wounded Wheels

Restoring Heroes and Hotrods

Thank you!