Cal Poly Students Build Low-Cost Custom Mobility Device for Toddler

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-03

Engineering students used 3D printing technology to fabricate a specialized mobility trainer after insurance limits restricted access to necessary equipment.

Engineering students at California Polytechnic State University have developed a customized, low-cost mobility trainer for a young child recovering from a stroke. The project addressed a critical gap in medical coverage, as standard health insurance policies often restrict coverage for such assistive devices to a single unit every five years.

The student team utilized 3D printing technology to design and fabricate the specialized equipment. In total, the manufacturing process required approximately 285 hours of continuous 3D printing to create the durable plastic components and frame structures necessary for the child's physical rehabilitation needs.

Commercial mobility trainers can cost upward of several thousand dollars, making frequent replacements financially burdensome for families as pediatric patients outgrow their equipment. By leveraging additive manufacturing techniques, the university team significantly reduced material costs while tailoring the device specifically to the toddler's physical dimensions.

The custom trainer provides ergonomic support to assist the toddler in regaining motor functions and walking ability. Student developers adapted the design parameters to ensure the framework could withstand daily therapeutic exercises while remaining lightweight enough for home usage.

The initiative highlights a growing trend among university biomedical and mechanical engineering programs to create functional medical equipment through rapid-prototyping technologies. The finalized device has been delivered to the family for ongoing physical therapy.