Engineering a better stairlift

From the industrial manufacturing perspective, relatively complex machines take a lot of parts and require quality engineering in order to work properly. Systems like a stairlift, which seem so simple to operate in getting a disabled person from one floor to the next, are truly marvels of design and operation.

photo credit: country_boy_shane

Even a simple motorized liftchair has a number of components that would make the new engineering student flustered to understand. The working components required not only to do the lifting, but to hold the weight of the occupant at any particular position during the recline is astounding.

And there are a number of opportunities in this field of mechanical engineering should one desire to learn more about the industry. With massive numbers of baby boomers already starting to retire, the next 25 to 30 years will see demand increase by skyrocketing amounts.

When there is that many folks who need better ways to get around their homes, as well as traverse up and down stairs, there will always be the chance for someone to develop a device that works easier, faster or safer. Additionally, many of these machines are quite heavy and one could invent devices that are as solid and provide the same functionality at lower costs of manufacture. This would surely provide some success in someone's future.