Tartan Toothbrush (Gyroscopic Toothbrush Stabilizer)
Tartan Toothbrush (Gyroscopic Toothbrush Stabilizer)
Team Members: Elle Brough, Jonathan Milloway, Billy Boucuvalas, Olu-Banke Boakye-Yiadom, Ella Vantol
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In a team of five, we developed a modified toothbrush holder for individuals with motor deficits, such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson's, to promote independence and improve oral hygiene. Our design features a large, easy-grip handle with a gyroscope that resists tremors during tooth-brushing. This project was created in the Mechanical Design: Methods and Applications course at Carnegie Mellon. Guidance provided by Dr. Rahul Panat.
The flywheel inside the Tartan Toothbrush is coupled to a motor that spins at a high speed in order to start the stabilization effect. The flywheel resists changing its axis of rotation, instead precessing perpendicular to the applied force from the tremor.
tartantoothbrushvideo.mp4
Further development for this project could include introducing a gimbal to elimate the effect of precession on the hand and stabilize in one direction, revising the size and shape of the flywheel for ideal mass distribution and minimization, and improving the safety of the coupling mechanism.
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