Assistive Technology Fishing Device
Axmann, Andrea Lang, Lucas Overcast, Bryan Shears, Bryan
Axmann, Andrea
Lang, Lucas
Overcast, Bryan
Shears, Bryan
Abstract
Description
The assistive technology field aims to improve the lives of people with mental and physical disabilities by providing technological devices to aid in various tasks ranging from every day activities to hobbies and recreation. Assistive technology fishing devices are becoming more commonplace; however, the majority of these devices demonstrate poor variable distance casting and lack hooking action capabilities. According to Peter Pauwels, who has been working to improve the assistive technology field for 20 years, enhancing these particular aspects in these devices is an important advance. The aim of the project is to improve both the variable distance casting and hooking functions of previous AT Fishing Device prototypes. Variable distance casting was accomplished by varying the pullback distance of the fishing rod while the hooking function was attained by increasing pullback force. The final design uses a pneumatic rotary actuator to simulate the pullback, casting, and hooking processes used for fishing as well as an electric motor for the reel-in process. The AT Fishing Device uses simple switching and readily available components to increase reliability and manufacturability. This portable machine costs less than $1,000 dollars to build and ultimately affords the sport of fishing to a much broader audience.
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University of Wyoming Libraries