Engineers to develop wheelchair to help Paralympic athlete climb Kilimanjaro

A group of Institution members are helping to develop a unique all-road wheelchair to assist a Paralympic athlete to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

The team of engineers is working with Airbus, Altran, the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, Speedpig and OpticaRoma to design and build a human-powered vehicle to help a disabled athlete reach the top of Kilimanjaro - almost 6,000 metres above sea level. 

Made from carbon fibre and weighing just 15 kilograms, the chair will be 50% lighter than other all-road wheelchairs on the market today.

The 12-person team will include a Paralympic athlete as well as three doctors from the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, five Airbus engineers (and Institution members), a member of Altran and two guides. Travelling between 3-15 September as part of the 'Kilimanjaro Challenge', it will take the team 12 days to travel along the Marangu Route to Kilimanjaro.

Organising committee member, Manuel Santaolalla, said: "Ground-breaking technology has come together with humanitarian work for this challenge and illustrates the Institution’s commitment to improve the world through engineering.”

Dr Helen Meese, the Institution’s Head of Engineering in Society said: “The Institution is very proud to be sponsoring this project, which is set to be a huge psychological, physical and engineering challenge. We hope that the development of this mountain wheelchair will help illustrate how engineering really is helping to improve the world we live in.” 

Teresa Busto, Head of the Airbus Illescas plant said: "This is the first time in history that a chair with these specifications has been built. I am very proud it has been our plant in Illescas and our employees who have volunteered and shown solidarity with this project."
 
Alfonso Martínez, General Manager of Altran Spain said: "For a company like Altran, this project is a clear example of our commitment to innovation and to society. We have applied all our expertise in the field of aeronautical engineering to this social responsibility project.”

The prototype of the human-powered vehicle will be on display at the Institution’s Formula Student Event on 9–12 July. Those attending the event will get the chance to see the wheelchair and meet the team leading the challenge. 

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