b'20 Member News November 2023Equality, diversity and inclusionProject Rock ClimberA team of engineers are building a powered mobility chair to allow disabled adventurer Nick Wilson to summit Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Prototype Rock Climber 1 is the design from Rock Engineering Limited,of an all-new powered mobility vehicle concept that facilitates far greater access, and Nick about why takingand freedom to real-world urban, and this project to the extremesWe wanted to see if wecountryside environments.of Snowdon will highlight andcould genuinely removepeople with disabilities to do tackle the very real accessibility issues faced by wheelchair usersbarriers and give peopleeverything from mounting curbs on a daily basis. more confidence to goto climbing mountains. Elliot explains that Project Rockoutside, and exploreIn creating the power chair Climber came about after aplaces without the fear ofthat will hopefully allow Nick to chance encounter with Nickgetting stuck, running outattempt a solo ascent of Mount in 2022. After spending timeSnowdon next year, the team at of batteries, or just feelingRock Engineering said they learned with Nick, it became apparentanxious and embarrassedmore about different peoples just how difficult it was for him and other wheelchair usersbecause they mayneeds when it comes to disability. to navigate and move aroundhave to ask for help. This chair has been specifically everyday settings. designed for Nick in mind, but the Nick Wilson, Disabled Adventurer andeventual aim will be to design Speaker, Advocating for Survivors ofAs engineers that specialise inone solution for everyone.Suicide and Accessible Activities developing designs and solvingThe team together, are problems for the Automotiveattempting to overcome theThis goal can only be achieved As one of the largestand Motorsport sectors, Elliotchallenges that wheelchair usersby bringing together engineers engineering institutions, weand Andrew decided to embarkface every single day, all whilstand those with the lived are committed to deliveringon the mission to providehighlighting the limitations ofexperiences to the development equality, diversity anda single solution to tacklecurrent wheelchair regulationsprocess, so that they can work inclusion in the profession wewidespread wheelchair accessand manufacture that is hinderingtogether to find the solution.represent, with the ultimateissues and show how inclusivetechnological advancements that goal of advancing excellencewould allow them to manageElliot and Andrew said: We design should be fundamentaltheir everyday lives without thehope it can climb a mountain, in engineering a better, moreto any engineering project. risk of falling or getting stuck.but more importantly we inclusive world, for everyone.hope it can demonstrate how, Project Rock Climber is aNick, an advocate for mensas engineers, we can make great example of inclusivemental health, has grown hisa hugely positive impact on engineering in action andown online following as thesocietal challenges and on aims to combat currentDisabled Adventurer. Throughpeople like Nick.limitations wheelchair usersPowerchair Adventuring, he face in their everyday livesdemonstrates what accessibleWell be following project when trying to navigate aactivities are available for peopleRock Climber through a range of outdoor terrains.with disabilities. He explains:series of challenges and This is all about overcomingcharting Nicks progress The resulta custom builtaccessibility issues everywhereas he aims to showcase electric mobility chair that isand having fun in the meantime.whats possible when you able to tackle tough outdoorThis can include any sort ofengineer with inclusivity, terrain with the ultimate goaladventure, and this project aimsinnovation and adventure of getting disabled adventurer,to provide the technology andfront and centre.Nick, to the summit of Snowdon.equipment required to allow We spoke to Associate Member Nick became the first person to Elliot Dason-Barber BBEng CEngcomplete 100km of the RidgewayTo find out more and chart Project Rock Climbersand Andrew Miller BEng MSc,Trail in a power chair progress, visit: rockmobility.co.uk'