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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
CHAPTER 12
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT
BUFFALO
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
335 Jarvis Hall
Buffalo, New York 14260-4400
Principal Investigator:
Joseph C. Mollendorf (716) 645-2593 x2319
molendrf@acsu.buffalo.edu
5

117 118 NSF 2002 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities
ADAPTIVE VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER
Student Designer: Peter T. Streit
Supervising Professor: Dr. Joseph C. Mollendorf
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260

INTRODUCTION
This project addresses the problem that children
with disabilities face when using video game
controllers with many small buttons. Some clients
do not have the motor skills required to use many
toys traditionally used by other children the same
age. Playing video games will help these children
develop better motor skills and hand-eye
coordination.
SUMMARY OF IMPACT
With this device, children now have the capability of
playing a video game. They can also play with and
compete against others.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
This project is based on the game Sonic the
Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. This is a simple
game that consists of a character running and
jumping. Once properly set up, the game can be
controlled by only two buttons on the video game
controller.
Almost any child could use this controller. Since
each added button is run in parallel from the
original controller, either the original controller
buttons or the auxiliary larger buttons can be used.
This allows the game to be adapted to different
children and also allows another person to play with
that child.
To keep this device versatile, the added larger
buttons are connected to a headphone type plug on
the front of the original controller. Fig. 12.1 shows
this connection. The universal connection allows
each child to use his or her own button, with a
choice as to the part of the game to operate (i.e.,
making the character run or jump).
The device was designed by using the original
controller and adding two headphone jacks on its
face. This allows the original controller to be used
without modification or it can be adapted with
additional larger buttons. When using the added
larger buttons, the controller is still completely
functional as before but there are additional wires
from that headphone jack to the added buttons.
With the intricacies of the controllers circuit board,
a way to connect a parallel circuit before the main
processor that is attached to the circuit board was
needed. The best way was to connect the circuit
close to where the original buttons were on the
controller.
A small hole was drilled in the circuit board through
the positive side of the circuit path; this was done to
separate the paths. A ground was made at a
common ground to keep it from interfering with the
other circuit paths. Fig. 12.2 shows how the
connections were made.
An area on the face of the controller offered the
space required to mount the headphone jacks.
Holes were drilled for the jacks and routed the wires
so that could the controller faceplate and backing
plate could be reattached when finished.
The total cost of this project was $25.
Chapter 12: State University of New York at Buffalo 119


Figure 12.1. Controller with Auxiliary Button.

Figure 12.2. Circuit Connections Inside the Controller.
120 NSF 2002 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities
BI-FOLDING REFRIGERATOR DOOR TO
FACILITATE ACCESS
Student Designers: Ben Kaye, Paul Near, and Kenneth Class
Supervising Professor: Dr. Joseph C. Mollendorf
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260

INTRODUCTION
This project addresses problems that affect people in
wheelchairs, on crutches, using walkers or having
any general mobility problem. People with such
mobility problems have difficulty trying to
accomplish a task while moving. One result of this
problem is the difficulty in opening a refrigerator
door while standing in front of the refrigerator. A
standard refrigerator has a large opening radius for
the door as shown in Fig. 12.3. As a result, the door
cannot be opened while a person is still standing in
front of the refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF IMPACT
By taking a regular refrigerator and implementing a
bi-folding door, the turning radius of the refrigerator
door was drastically reduced. As a result, a person
with a mobility problem will be able to stand in
front of the refrigerator and open the door without
having to move at the same time. In addition, other
points were considered such as making sure that the
shelving could slide out towards the person, and the
controls for the refrigerator were not located in the
back (as they most often are). This modification
allows the refrigerator controls to be adjusted
without much effort.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The design that was considered took advantage of
the existing door on the refrigerator. This door was
converted into the bi-folding door by cutting the
original door in half and then placing a hinge on the
center of it. Since the door folds in the center, it is
important that to not have any gaps that would
allow cold air to leak out. Another basic
requirement of the design was to make a track to
guide the door as it was opened and closed; the
track was constructed from aluminum with two
aluminum brackets welded to it. Figures 12.4 and
12.5 show the opened and closed bi-folding
refrigerator door.

Figure 12.3. Standard Refrigerator Door.
Chapter 12: State University of New York at Buffalo 121
Another essential part of the design was the seals of
the refrigerator door. Since the door is bi-folding,
the seals could no longer be attached to the inside of
the door because the seals would not allow for the
door to fully open. New seals were designed and
attached to the face of the refrigerator itself. The
door closed against the magnetic strips that were
placed on the seals. This prevented cold air from
leaking out of the refrigerator. Seals were also
placed in the seam of the bi-folding door so that
when the door closed, air would not leak out
through the center of the refrigerator.
Figure 12.5. Closed Bi-folding Door.

Figure 12.4. Opened Bi-folding Door.
The total cost of this project was $327.
122 NSF 2002 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities
BOTTLE TWISTER ASSISTER: A DEVICE TO
ASSIST PERSONS WITH LIMITED USE OF HANDS
TO OPEN TWIST BOTTLES.
Student Designer: Jonathan A. Terrance
Supervising Professor: Dr. Joseph C. Mollendorf
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260

INTRODUCTION
A large number of people have limited to no use of
their hands. This category of people includes the
elderly and those with conditions such as muscular
dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and arthritis. This design
problem is to create an assistive device that would
alleviate some limitations that the individuals face.
The major focus of this design project is to create a
device to assist people in opening twist top soda
bottles or other similar type bottles. The design is to
be simple and lightweight so that a person can use it
with ease. An assumption for this project is that the
person operating the device has enough use of their
hands to hold a bottle while handling the device.
SUMMARY OF IMPACT
The impact of this device is that it will ease the
everyday frustrations that people encounter when
attempting to open twist type bottles. By doing so, it
will satisfy the need for self-reliance and increase the
confidence of the user. The simplicity of this design
will allow for a practical and user-friendly device.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Three designs were considered, however each one
uses the same general concept similar to that of a
candlesnuffer. Each device