UPS-Quito students Gabriela Flores, Jhonny Barrera and Luis Ortega, who major in mechanical engineering, were led by Fabio Obando in the construction of a pedestal wheelchair. The project was possible thanks to the contribution of patients and specialists from the CRIE Rehabilitation Center.

This idea emerged with students' knowledge in biomechanics, which merges life sciences with technological advances. Students had to measure the parts of the human body as mechanical elements in order to calculate force, pressure, kinetic energy, stability, and physical and energy use.

The wheelchair weighs 27kg, it has an electric system, rechargeable battery, wheels in the back, foot rest and ergonomic cushion. Its capacity is 100kg and there is a remote control that allows the user to put the chair up or down which will avoid sore muscles as well as enable him/her to interact with people from different sizes. This project is part of the students' final graduation project.

Juan Carlos Padilla and Rodrigo Palacios, therapists at CRIE, congratulated UPS for encouraging students to improve people's life by creating projects that will meet their needs and which sometimes cannot be found in the market.