Meera Ramakrishnan, Sumana Mahata, Manasa Ashok, Harry Teng
People who use wheelchairs often encounter difficulty getting through doors because the process of opening doors, coupled with the task of rolling through doors, is a challenge. In terms of addressing the issue, many people modify the doors within their homes to make them more accessible. For example, they completely eliminate doors, try to install sliding doors (which are easier to open and close), or simply leave their doors open all the time. These solutions are acceptable for inside of the house; however, the front door cannot be modified in any of these ways. In addition, the cost of purchasing and installing an automatic door is usually not practical for home use, though it is a great option for public spaces. We want to make an automatic door opener that is cost effective, intuitive, and helpful in getting through the front door of a home. The significance of the Doorbuster is that it is a cost effective solution that will increase accessibility into and out of the home while preserving independence for wheelchair users.