Michigan State University College of Engineering

ECE 480 Group 1

Welcome to the Temperature-Controlled Garment Design Team Website

             This is the webpage for Senior Design group #1

Project Summary 

Spinal injuries can cause a disorder in which the body cannot properly regulate its own temperature. Hot or cold weather causes large swings in core temperature, severely impairing basic body functions. This disorder typically accompanies paralysis of the legs and arms, leaving a person wheelchair-bound. In an effort to provide greater independence and increased safety for people with this disability, we are designing a wheelchair accessory which regulates body temperature. A network of tubes circulates temperature-controlled liquid around an all-weather garment, keeping the wearer’s core temperature within a comfortable range. Particular attention is paid to covering “hot zones” on the body (shown on the heat map below) and reacting automatically to changes in the environment or the wearer’s body temperature. This keeps the wearer safe and comfortable while allowing them a greater degree of mobility and freedom in a variety of environments. This project was made possible by a grant and generous support from the Chrysler Foundation, Marathon Oil, Wochholz Endowment, and the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities in hopes that from this functional prototype, a marketable product can be developed to help disabled people around the world.