Initiated by the Institut National des Invalides, the project seeks to give people who cannot use their upper or lower limbs the opportunity to practice canoeing, and thus to experience a feeling of movement and freedom on the water. Developed by ENSTA Bretagne, together with the Canoë Kayak Club Brestois (CKCB), the solution harnesses a mechanism that is inexpensive and easy to implement.
A project in three stages
This project unfolded over several stages. First, two students, supported by Romain Créac’hcadec, a research professor at ENSTA Bretagne, were tasked with analyzing what already exists, studying the mechanisms and selecting the materials.
This work culminated in a technical report that struck the CKCB as promising: so, a second group of students, supervised by Jean-François Guillemette, a mechanical engineering lecturer at ENSTA Bretagne, performed market research with a view to distributing the paracanoe kit and built an initial prototype. Thanks to these first two stages, a third group of international students was able to finalize and improve the paracanoe prototype.
An affordable system
During the design of the canoe, the main requirement laid down by Thierry Giorgiutti, CKCB President, was to produce an inexpensive system to ensure it was accessible to a majority of people with disabilities. For that, the students used widely available materials like laths and strips of composite wooden decking to build the prototype frame.
Once seated in the canoe, paddlers can use their hands only, their feet only or both at the same time. By pulling with their hands or pushing with their feet, they will set the paddle rotating in the water.
Next steps
The two students who finalized the prototype were able to test it at the end of June on the Penfeld riverbanks in Brest with Jean-François Guillemette and Thierry Giorgiutti watching on.
These full-scale tests have validated the general concept and brought several points to light where improvements could be made.
The prototype has since been entrusted to the CKCB so that Thierry Giorgiutti can trial the system in view of a future distribution of a kit. The next step for Jean-François Guillemette: securing certification for the prototype.
Accordingly, in the fall the lecturer is going to set a brainstorming project for an upcoming group of students on questions of standards, responsibility and certification of the paracanoe. The aim is to be able to furnish all canoeing clubs with an inexpensive, certified kit so that this sport can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
Cette action s'inscrit dans le 10e objectif de développement durable fixé par l'ONU : la réduction des inégalités
