The Okoa Project
September 2018 - Present
This semester for my D-lab Design for Scale class, I am working on a team with 4 other students to help our client, The Okoa Project, develop an affordable ambulance trailer that can attach to any motorcycle, connecting rural communities in Tanzania to healthcare.
​
Course Description: https://d-lab.mit.edu/education/courses/design-scale
The Okoa Project: https://www.theokoaproject.com/
What We Hope to Accomplish:
-
Learn about current design requirements and Okoa ambulance design (safety, durability, manufacturability, cost, etc.)
-
Evaluate current ambulance design and each of its subsystems (Frame, Wheel Cage, Floor, Attachment, Strecher, Cover)
-
Explore transitioning from local manufacturing to mass manufacturing
-
Recommend design changes based on DFM considerations
-
Explore flat-pack design that would reduce overall shipping package size and allow for ease of assembly while maintaining the Okoa ambulance’s key features and structurability
-
Develop plan for assembly and identify potential any associated risks