Industrial - Bachelor
In today’s world, pets are cherished family members who offer companionship and emotional support. However, for those with limited mobility or age-related challenges, daily pet care can be difficult.
Uppaw provides an accessible, user-friendly lifting solution compatible with most pet carriers, promoting safety, comfort, and independence for both pets and their owners.
The purpose of this project was to explore, define, and solve the challenges faced by people with limited physical ability and elderly pet owners in handling and transporting their limited-mobility pets, particularly medium to large animals. Through research, it was identified that many users experience physical strain and reduced independence when loading their pets into carriers or vehicles. In addition, pets often become anxious during the process due to unstable or shaken motion.
Uppaw emerged as a response to the problems and opportunities identified through research. The investigation focused on various types of pet carriers, examining how pets respond differently to each design and how these experiences impact both the pet and the owner. The research also explored the challenges faced by pets with medical or mobility conditions when using conventional carriers. This provided valuable insights into user behaviour, comfort, and emotional well-being, forming the foundation for a more inclusive and user-centred design approach.
Analysis of existing pet carriers revealed common issues affecting pet comfort and safety. Most lacked external stressor reduction and motion stabilization, exposing pets to stressful situation and unstable travel. Many designs relied on zippers or weak locks that could be easily damaged by stressed pets, risking escapes, injuries, and compromised security during transport.
These gaps reveal opportunities to create a carrier that combines the diferent features of various designs. By integrating mechanisms that reduce common stressors, the product can enhance pet comfort, durability, and ease of use for owners. Such a design could become a familiar, everyday solution that supports animal well-being during travel.
Introducing Uppaw! Designed to support both people with limited physical ability and their medium to large pets, Uppaw combines accessibility, comfort, and stability in one intelligent system. Featuring a hydraulic electronic jack lift, it enables effortless and secure loading without the need to bend down, ensuring a smooth experience for both user and pet. As a user-centred response to mobility and caregiving challenges, Uppaw aims to enhance independence, safety, and emotional well-being during pet travel.
Allows precise height adjustment with smooth, quiet movement to avoid startling the pet inside. The mechanism is capable of lifting and loading pets of up to 50 kg, while maintaining a lightweight and portable structure for effortless handling.
Featuring two sets of (+) and (–) buttons positioned at both the front and back of the carrier. This allows users to adjust the height effortlessly from either side, offering greater flexibility and ease of access. The intuitive control layout is designed to accommodate users with limited mobility, ensuring that operation remains comfortable whether seated, standing, or approaching from different angles.
An angled sliding platform with an integrated ball-bearing pad enables effortless, controlled loading, minimizing physical strain for the user while maintaining stability for the pet. The mechanism allows the platform to glide smoothly along the track, reducing friction and the need for heavy lifting.
Underneath the carrier, retractable wheels allow users to easily drag Uppaw using the handle, providing smooth mobility without heavy lifting. When needed, the wheels can be activated with a simple push of a button located at the back, instantly extending for movement. Once the carrier is in place, they can be retracted back into the base to maintain stability and a clean, compact form.
+ Alloy steel was chosen for the side pedal due to its high durability, impact resistance, and lightweight, sustainable properties. It provides a smooth finish and is easy to clean, ensuring long-term hygiene and aesthetic quality
+ Recycled ABS plastic was selected and manufactured using injection moulding for its durability against external environmental factors, sustainability, and lightweight properties. The material is also easy to clean, ensuring long-term hygiene and usability
+ Mass-customization in colour allows for a clean, smooth, and visually pleasing finish, enhancing both functionality and aesthetic appeal
Alma is a passionate industrial designer from Vietnam who values user-centered design driven by empathy and thoughtful consideration. Her strengths include problem-solving, sketching, critical thinking, prototyping, and ideation. She is highly self-motivated and skilled in learning various CAD and rendering software, continually expanding her technical expertise. Alma’s design philosophy focuses on creating meaningful solutions that serve not only people, but also animals and the natural environment.