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Project Overview

With the intensification of global population aging, the number of elderly people continues to grow, and the demand for assistive devices is also increasing. The market potential for standing canes is enormous, especially for the elderly who require assistance. The rapid development of intelligent technology provides the possibility for the upgrade of canes. This project is a more stable, safe, and convenient cane designed to support both hands when grandparents stand up while sitting, with a four legged structure at the bottom.

Project background

My grandfather is 94 years old, quite old. My grandmother passed away a long time ago, and my grandfather lives alone. He likes to live in his old house because there are his old friends nearby, so he doesn’t have to live in high-rise buildings and it’s very convenient to go out. Because he is older and has difficulty with his legs, his neighbors and old friends often come to his house to chat and have tea with him. Our house is very close to my grandfather’s house, it only takes 4 minutes to ride a bike. My mother goes to my grandfather’s house every day to visit him, chat with him, or bring some homemade dumplings, buns, etc.
Grandfather’s overall physical condition is good, and he is able to cook simple meals, boil water, and occasionally walk a short distance out to buy a small amount of food. But one of his knees often hurts, to the point where the leg is deformed and unable to walk normally, requiring the use of crutches. His crutch was originally made of simple wooden material, and later used aluminum alloy material. But they all have no extra functions or structures. When he sits under most chairs, the crutch armrest is located at the height of his chest. When standing up, he needs to press down on the armrest harder, and there is only one armrest. He often stands up with the other hand supporting nearby objects. In addition, the bottom of his cane only has one fulcrum, and when he presses down forcefully, the cane often becomes unstable and tilts, which is very dangerous.
Here are photos of my grandfather’s daily life.

• The first one is a photo of my grandfather and my sister’s child, two adorable people who are 93 years apart in age.
• The second photo is of my grandfather on his birthday.
• The third photo is of my grandfather resting in the yard.

Preference

• My grandfather likes dark colors, such as black, dark blue, and gray. Most of his clothes are also of this color, and there are not many patterns, which are relatively simple.
  
• He prefers aluminum alloy crutches because he needs them for a long time, and aluminum alloy crutches are lighter.
  Sometimes there may be situations where there is no lighting, the environment is relatively dark, and coupled with his advanced age, his vision deteriorates, making it difficult for him to see the road clearly.
• A cane is crucial for a grandfather who lives independently, as it can help him walk steadily and independently.

Here are two photos of elderly people using crutches while sitting and standing (this image is sourced from the internet)

Target market

Core users: My grandfather and elderly people aged 60 and above, especially those who have limited mobility and need assistive devices to support daily life. For example, elderly people who live at home need to frequently switch from sitting to standing at home, and have high requirements for the convenience and comfort of crutches.

Target cost

Analysis of Current Retail Prices in the Market

The product image is sourced from JD.com, with dimensions in cm. The selling price is 691 RMB, approximately equivalent to 89.9267 euros.

The product image is sourced from JD.com, with dimensions in centimeters. The selling price is 198 RMB, approximately equivalent to 25.7677 euros.

The product image is sourced from JD.com, with dimensions in cm. The selling price is 64 RMB, approximately equivalent to 8.329 euros.

According to data from e-commerce platforms such as JD.com, the price range for elderly specific canes is quite large, ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan, with some high-end, multifunctional products even priced over a thousand yuan. The specific price depends on factors such as product functionality, material, and design. For example, some high-end canes with features such as seats, lighting, and anti slip have higher prices, while some simple and basic canes have relatively lower prices.

Product Material Analysis

1. Main material: the main material of crutch can choose stainless steel, aluminum alloy or carbon fiber and other materials. Stainless steel is strong and durable, but heavy; Aluminum alloy material light and high strength, is a more common choice; Carbon fiber is lighter and stronger, but costs more.
2. Handrail material: The handrail part can be wrapped with upholstered leather or other soft materials to increase the comfort of use.
3. Non-slip material: The bottom of the crutch can be installed with non-slip foot pads or non-slip rubber heads to improve the stability of walking.
4. Other accessories: such as adjusting the height, lighting, seats and other functions of accessories, will also increase the cost of the product.

Target cost estimation

Based on the above analysis, we can make a preliminary estimate of the target cost. Here’s a cost estimate for an aluminum-based crutch with basic non-slip functionality:

1. The main material cost: aluminum alloy material, the length is about 1 meter, the cost is about 50-100 yuan, which is about 6.507-13.014 euros
2. Handrail material cost: upholstered leather or other soft materials, the cost is about 10-20 yuan, about 1.3014-2.6028 euros
3. Cost of non-slip material: non-slip foot mat or non-slip rubber head, the cost is about 5-10 yuan, about 0.6507-1.3014 euros
4. Other parts cost: such as adjusting the height, lighting and other functions of the accessories, the cost is about 20-50 yuan, about 2.6028-6.507 euros
5. Production process cost: including cutting, welding, grinding, assembly and other processes, the cost is about 30-50 yuan, about 3.9042-6.507 euros
6. R&d and test costs: Depending on the amount of R&D investment and the complexity of the test process, the cost will vary, but the preliminary estimate is about 50-100 yuan, which is about 6.507-13.014 euros

The initial estimated target cost of an aluminum-based crutch with basic anti-slip function is about 165-330 yuan, which is equivalent to 21.4731-42.9462 euros

If more advanced features are added (such as seats, lighting, etc.), the cost will increase accordingly.

Timeline

Target user research: Ask your grandparents about their daily needs, especially the difficulties they face in getting up and walking. (Deadline: October 23)

Creative brainstorming: Team members brainstorm and propose a variety of design options, including structure, function, user interface, etc. The two sides report the design plan to each other and further communicate. (Deadline: October 30)

Product design: product concept drawing, including appearance, size, functional layout, etc. Complete product appearance, structure, function and other design work. (Deadline: 23 November)

Feedback and improvement: The two sides communicate again to determine the final design plan. (Deadline: December 6)

Project Design Strategy

Design objective

Design a kind of stick to help grandpa get up from sitting and lying.The project should be enough light to carry and enough strong to support them to get up.And the project must be easy to know how to use and also easy to use.When grandpa want to get up,he can use the project to finish the work all by himself while it should be stable then grandpa will not fall over .Also,when he is walking, the project can completely help grandpa finish the action.

Criterion

Grandparents preference and the above are both very important.Like my grandpa he prefer to fashionable things but not things shows he is old,especially,he doesn’t want the others think he is too old to need help.I think the project can’t be so traditional ,it should be like a new appliance and lead the fashion.

The National Standard