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About the Juria Project

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Our focus is on creating an adaptive electric stroller that caters specifically to the needs of individuals with disabilities and allows them and their families to enjoy hiking trails, beaches, dirt roads, and forests just as we all do. This is not an electric wheelchair, an All-Terrain Trackchair, or a robot that requires extensive training and comes with a hefty price tag. The Juria is a stroller that fills a gap that's been overlooked in the adaptive equipment world. In the status quo, the market offers wheelchairs and robot-like vehicles, but they often miss the mark for many individuals with special needs. Some people require the comfort of a stroller-like configuration, complete with a canopy enclosure for protection from the elements. Others may have sensory issues and prefer the security of an enclosed space. And for those like my brother who can't sit upright for a long time as required in a traditional wheelchair, the options become even more limited. For the past 5 y...
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Ju·ria ˈju̇rēə - The name

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I am often asked about the meaning of “Juria” so here it is. The name Ju·ria, pronounced ˈju̇rēə, carries a deeply personal significance within our family. Ju·ria derived from the word "stroller." From the time my brother was a baby, he loved the outdoors and spending time in the woods on trails – especially in the comfort of his stroller. Hikes and long walks became his most cherished activity, it was a sensory and soothing experience that relaxed and calmed him. My brother has apraxia of speech (AOS), so communicating was always a challenge for him. AOS happens when the brain has trouble coordinating the oral movements of the mouth and face, which are needed to pronounce words. Many of my brother’s words are hard to understand. Nevertheless, from a young age, my brother persistently attempted to speak, verbalize, and connect with those around him. One day he started saying Juria. He wouldn’t stop and we eventually figured out that he was referring to his stroller and asking...
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Juria CAD Model, Description of Parts, and Assembly Details

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This is one of the initial 3D renderings, showcasing the key components that make up the Juria. Each component serves a specific purpose, contributing to the final Juria design. The battery will be mounted in the center of the rig and will power both motors. Placing the battery in the center helps to distribute weight more evenly across the vehicle or device, improving balance and stability. In the Juria, which will prioritize safety and practicality, this can lead to better handling and reduced body roll during turns. A centrally mounted battery also lowers the center of gravity, improving overall vehicle dynamics, and making it more stable and safer. The vehicle's center is often the safest location in the event of a collision or damage from the underside. While traversing through rugged trail terrain, mounting the battery in the center protects it from damage, which is crucial since batteries can be hazardous if ruptured. The front wheel will be able to gyrate around itself...
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Off-road Assembly

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How to assemble and install Fat Tires: I recommend purchasing a fat bike with complete wheel assembly and a tire hub with spokes. It’s not cheap and will cost a bit more but it will save a lot of time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8CQSHG3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_t 1. This wheel assembly comes complete with an axle, however, the axle is 10mm in diameter and it’s too short. To install it on a Wike you will need a longer a 12mm axle that is 220mm long (most bike parts are specked in metric units of measure). Once you remove the existing axle you will also need to remove the ball bearing that are in there since they are 10mm x 26mm x 8mm W. The bearing we will need must be 12mm x 26mm x 8mm (9mm will also work) to accommodate the 12mm axle. The bearings that are in the hub are hard to remove so you will need to hammer . 2. The axle that I found to work best is the Minho 12mm 230mm Front Rear Axle it comes with three bushings and the end bolt. We will need four of the 5mm bushings a...
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On Snow, On Pavement, On Gravel, and On Sand

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Snow Kit and Component Enhancements To address the challenges of snowy terrain, we introduced a snow kit . This involved adding extra spacer pads, which allowed the cog fixed to the wheel to properly align the chain with the motor, ensuring smooth operation even in icy conditions. Additionally, we replaced the axles, which proved to be a successful upgrade—they didn’t bend or flex under pressure, offering greater durability and stability on uneven surfaces. The fat tires performed excellently in the snow, providing good traction without producing significant noise. These tires handled the slippery, snow-covered trails of Hidden Valley with ease, making them an ideal choice for winter conditions. Juria Tested in Extreme Conditions: Insights and Future Enhancements The Juria device was recently tested across a range of environments, from the freezing trails of Tallman Mountain State Park to snowy conditions in Hidden Valley, Maine, and the urban landscape of Central Park. These tests he...
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Reinforced Rail Design Needed

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We used 1” aluminum square tubing for the rails design that supports the canopy and chassis. During the third test drive on grass (a bumpy surface), both rails broke, but not at the welds, so it doesn’t seem to be a fabrication issue—it looks like they were just overstressed. Switching to 1.5” aluminum tubing would be ideal since it’s almost three times stronger. For now, we're sticking with the 1” tubing and adding gussets on both sides of each rail to reinforce it. The final design will use 1.5” tubing.   Updated rail design - PDF and .dfx file PDF .dfx
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Opening the Trails

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At The Juria Project , we believe the outdoors should be for everyone . But for people with disabilities, access to natural spaces is still often limited—not by interest or ability, but by infrastructure and information. That’s why we’re launching the Blue Hills Trail Accessibility Guides, a new initiative focused on making one of Greater Boston’s natural spaces more inclusive. With my partner, Miles Potter, we hope to achieve multifaceted accessibility to the Blue Hills Area by taking the necessary metrics so that individuals with disabilities can stay informed.  Why the Blue Hills? The Blue Hills Reservation, just a few miles south of Boston, is over 7,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and scenic peaks. For those of us who grew up nearby, it’s a local treasure—a place to hike, reflect, and connect with nature. But like many parks, it hasn’t always been welcoming to everyone. This project is about changing that. We want to make the Blue Hills a model for accessibility. That means g...
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Initial Design - Sketches

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Below, you can see the proof of concept early design sketches of the Juria. Rudimentary electric bike parts are pictured as being used to convert the Wike into a powered electric adaptive stroller. 
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Test Drive: Solid Performance with Key Improvements Needed

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The Sandbags: 150lbs We tested the Juria by loading 150 lbs of sandbags into the seat to simulate a driver's weight. It handled the extra weight easily, with smooth steering and stable balance, even when the load shifted. This test was done to check its ability to handle real use and identify any design weaknesses. The Joystick The joystick controller which we mounted on top of the canopy, was awkward to use without a handle. We'll explore adding a handlebar and a better placement for the joystick. Promising Start with Room for Improvement The first drive of the Juria went smoothly, handling rough terrain well with extra weight. Stock Wike wheels and tires worked, but more rugged off-road tires would be better for the electric dual drive. The front swivel wheel lacks tread, so we'll find a better off-road option. This setup performs perfectly on paved surfaces.
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Wireless Joystick

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While the joystick offers precise control, it requires skill to operate effectively, particularly in tight spaces. The sensitivity makes it challenging for beginners, with small inputs potentially causing large movements, demanding practice for accurate handling.
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