User-Centered Product Design
Dog Treat Dispenser CAD Model
Dog Treat Dispenser
Project Summary
Our final project for Engineering Design 1 was to address the needs of an individual with severe paralysis from the neck down — specifically designing a portable, wheelchair-accessible dog treat dispenser for his service dog.
This project required a lot of critical and creative thinking. It challenged our fabrication skills on the laser cutter and 3D printers.
Our Solution
Mohammed, Aydin and I created the most successful design of the class. A simple storage funnel and tube — entirely 3D printed — allowed dog treats to fall one by one to the bottom. At the bottom, a plunger mechanism activated 2 compression springs, and a button on the outside of a sleek small box extruded a single dog treat onto a small plate easily accessed by the user. The product was mounted using a sliding bracket to the wheelchair's armrest.
User Feedback
We were fortunate enough to meet the individual we were designing and building the dispenser for at a product showcase. He was very impressed with our design's simplicity and functionality. His feedback was greatly appreciated, and he offered a few useful pointers for further refinement.
Reflection
I learned a lot throughout this project and felt my ability to design a product based on user needs developed significantly. I was grateful to have had Aydin and Mohammed as partners and hope to work with them again.
Key Deliverables
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