On the up

An engineering student has revealed a new escalator design which – his college believes – will allow greater access for people with impaired mobility.

The design, which also promises to use less energy in installation as well as in running, has won the student , Jesús Sánchez, awards from the College of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia.

One of the features of the system is a switch that allows wheelchair users to re-configure three steps into a platform big enough for their wheelchair.

Sánchez, a student at the Aeronautical Engineering of Terrassa (ETSEIAT) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), also suggests acoustic and light systems enabling those with visual or hearing impediments access.

Commenting on the energy saving potential of the system, Sánchez said: Often municipal councils and companies think of lifts as the way to provide access for people with disabilities who have impaired mobility, but my system is cheaper and more sustainable than installing a lift. It is a design that solves accessibility problems in areas with slopes, where the typical solution would be to install steps and, although this is often very expensive or practically impossible, a lift.”

Clever engineering

Meet some of our Role Models who need to come up with creative engineering solutions to problems.

You’ve read it. Now review it.

Back to top

Back to top