A team of students in Course 2.009 (Product Engineering Processes) built the Revolution bicycle, designed to help developmentally disabled children learn to ride a bike. Above right, senior mechanical engineering majors Michal Ruchelsman, on bike, and Andrew Harlan, pushing, demonstrate how the bike works. As the rider pedals, an instructor walks behind holding the rear handlebars positioned behind the seat. Both sets of handlebars are linked mechanically. Above, left, senior Helen Tsai works on the bicycle. Members of the 'Bluesteel' team, which designed the bike, received a $5,000 award in the IDEAS Competition. Other MIT members of the team are senior Elysa Wan, junior Albert Hernandez, senior Mark Cote, senior Jorge Renjifo-Mundo and Lou Goldish, senior business developer in the Office of the Provost. 'For three years at MIT the academic rigors made it hard to see light at the end of the tunnel. This is a great way to end…it was an incredible experience working with these students,' said Ruchelsman. 'I never thought I'd be able to see the satisfaction of my work, and the impact I can have on other people's lives, after just four years. Some people don't see that in a lifetime. It made all the sleepless nights worthwhile.' Photos / Donna Coveney
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 6, 2007 (download PDF).
