Universal Weight Machine

The purpose of this project is to design and build an inexpensive, universally accessible multi-station exercise machine for the physical and mental well-being of athletes of the Special Olympics and Pathpoint Life Education & Advancement Program. The machine has three sides tiered to higher resistance: the first station offers a minimal resistance aerobic exercise focused on moving the arms with an ergometer, the second station provides numerous locations to latch on resistance bands that will build strength in the athlete’s arms and chest, and the final station has a donated weight machine that offers lat pulldowns and flys with maximum resistance delivered by a weight stack, cable and pulley system. Not only can the athletes exercise, they can challenge themselves and be emotionally fulfilled. The Pathpoint Life Education & Advancement Program is dedicated to helping their clients with developmental disabilities and other disadvantages reach their highest level of potential. The students of this project interacted with their clients to determine their level of exercise and what they hope to achieve with the addition of an exercise machine. Engineering students and kinesiology students worked together to determine the design and build the end product. The final assembly will be used by Pathpoint, the Special Olympics, and other facilities in the area that work with persons with disabilities