Grabbing the Opportunity to Innovate

While scrolling through social media posts about Stevens one day last year, Computer Science major Thomas Weinhardt, Class of 2027, happened upon a request that grabbed his attention. A pediatrician was searching for a student to design a motorized grabber tool for a young patient whose muscle deficiency prevented the use of a traditional off-the-shelf mechanical reacher.

Weinhardt took it as a personal challenge to help a child he likely would never meet. Starting with a design he found online and further guidance from the doctor, he proceeded to make a stronger, more durable, thoroughly customized solution. 

"I wanted to push myself to see if I could do it," he said. "I knew my way around 3D software and had just completed a project that required 3D printing, and I also had experience with soldering. Combined with my interest in solving the problem, I thought I had a uniquely tuned skill set for the job."

Extending beyond the code

Ironically, despite Weinhardt’s years of computer science training at Stevens, no advanced programming was necessary. Instead, he headed to Stevens’ MakerCenter collaborative design hub to start creating. 

He used a 3D modeling program to custom-design an electrical circuit, then added two switches for the buttons and a third switch to stop the grabbing mechanism from colliding with the handle. He printed the parts with a 3D printer at the PROtotype Object Fabrication (PROOF) lab, and, with help from Paul McClelland, director of the MakerCenter, he used a lathe and a bandsaw to cut and fit the parts. 

"Once I linked up with the MakerCenter, I ended up replacing the original plastic pipes with aluminum ones," Weinhardt recalled. "I hit some walls with the circuit soldering. Paul gave me advice for a sturdier construction and was a big help through the whole process."

Reaching new heights

The completed 42.5” grabber allows sufficient reach to secure objects on the ground and overhead. It uses just two buttons: the right one to grip, and the left for release. Its off-the-shelf rechargeable screwdriver battery can be replaced. 

Weinhardt plans to be available to handle any repairs or adjustments to the tool. He will also publish the final models, board and other design elements to his GitHub account so others can use them to make their own grabbers. 

"No other project I’ve done has challenged me in this way," he noted. "It had me lean on a skillset that I hadn’t used often. Exploring both electronics and engineering gave me a better understanding of multidisciplinary approaches. I learned how to stay motivated on a project for a long time. On a more practical note, I learned it's useful to have a bag of tools for projects like this, as sometimes it's good to just grab them and go to the lab rather than collecting up things from around your home!"

Weinhardt is excited at the doors this project has opened for his career planning. 

"It has inspired me to look into combining computer science with physical engineering such as 3D printing," Weinhardt said. "It has motivated me to continue working on side projects, as they can be interesting diversions and can lead to learning different skills."

He also appreciates the fulfillment that comes from using those skills to help others. 

"It was satisfying knowing that someone would benefit every day from something I was creating," he said. "If I ever get the chance to work on another assistive project, I’ll definitely take it. I can already see how this project will help the child it was designed for, and I hope to use technology to solve more real-world challenges."