Chevrolet Has Partnered with Michigan Technological University to Build Cycles for Wounded Veterans

GM is funding the creation of ten prototype hand cycles for wounded veterans to participate in marathons all over the country.
 
Dec. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Chevrolet and the students from Michigan Technological University recently unveiled their collaboration at the Army-Navy Game with ten prototype hand cycles to assist wounded veterans in competing in various racing events. Visit Biggers Chevrolet, in Elgin, IL (http://www.biggerschevy.com/dealership/directions.htm) to find out more about this collaboration and the goal of the project. They dealership is open six days a week and carries hundreds of the latest Chevy models.

The new cycles were created as a part of MTU’s senior project, Huskies Helping Heroes. GM funded the project and engineers from Chevrolet participated to mentor the students. The students also spent time with the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans to learn more about how they compete and what they thought their current cycles lacked and how they could be improved.

The mechanical engineering students designed and built the new hand cycles to be stronger, lighter, and more portable than options currently available on the commercial market. They utilize high strength steel alloys and improved restraints. The cycles are also more portable as they are able to fold down to fit into vehicles, a feature many currently produced cycles lack.

These newly designed cycles will assist veterans who are amputees or paraplegic and interested in racing and marathon running. The three wheel design is more ergonomic and stable than traditional wheel chair cycles.

The first prototype was used by retired Marine Corporal Joseph Woodke, a member of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, during the first quarter of this year’s Army-Navy game.

GM’s CEO announced that the prototypes will be going to into production for use next year. In addition to supplying the athletes with cycles, GM will also provide a Silverado HD to transport them.

Biggers Chevrolet is located at 1385 E Chicago St. in Elgin, IL for more information or to test drive a new Chevy vehicle. The dealership is open Monday through Saturday and can be contacted online (http://www.biggerschevy.com/contact-form.htm) or by phone at 1-866-431-1555 with any questions.
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