Design and Structural Validation of a Device for Assisted Vehicle Boarding

Population aging increases the demand for different assistive devices enabling independent mobility and safe vehicle boarding. This paper presents the design and development of a universal lifting platform intended to support the legs of people with reduced mobility during vehicle entry. The device was designed to be independent of a specific vehicle and to be powered by vehicle standard 12 Volt current. A CAD model of the proposed device was modeled in SolidWorks 2017 and validated through analytical calculations and finite element simulations. Based on the calculation results, a functional prototype was manufactured and tested under real operating conditions, confirming the feasibility and usability of the proposed solution. The presented platform provides a low-cost, lightweight and vehicle-independent assistive device, supporting controlled and safe leg transfer without the need for vehicle modification or homologation.