‘Matrix’ Team Showcases Next-Generation Mattress for Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Wins Grand Prize at Kookmin University 2022 Capstone Design Competition

[‘Matrix’ team (from left: team members Sim Seongbo, Kwon Hyunji, Jo Haerim, Oh Heesoo) (Provided by Kookmin University)]

Kookmin University (President Lim Hong-jae) announced on the 12th that it held the '2022 Capstone Design Competition Awards Ceremony' at the 'Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Festival' at the Westin Chosun Seoul.

The LINC 3.0 Project Group at Kookmin University, which hosted this competition, supports students in carrying out capstone design projects that cultivate creativity, practical skills, and teamwork through comprehensive problem-solving based on the major knowledge learned in their first and second years, focusing on tasks needed by industries and society.

At this competition held to expand the achievements of the 2022 second semester capstone design projects, the 'Matrix' team was selected as the grand prize winner for their 'Next-Generation Mattress for Pressure Ulcer Prevention.' The awarded 'Next-Generation Mattress for Pressure Ulcer Prevention' is a mattress developed by combining mechanical engineering and human technology, enabling posture changes of patients' bodies to prevent pressure ulcers in advance.

The 'Matrix' team stated, "After watching a scene in the movie 'My Special Brother' where a family member with a physical disability is turned sideways at regular intervals to prevent pressure ulcers, we developed this product to help people suffering from pressure ulcers."

Additionally, the 'Matrix' team utilized a control mechanism that activates if the patient's posture does not change for a certain period, helping to convert to the desired posture. They also built a fall prevention alert system and a mechanism operation notification system to consider user convenience. Furthermore, they devised a rotary mattress divided into three parts with bidirectional angle adjustment, enabling complete posture changes for patients, differentiating it from commercial products.

The students expressed, "We are grateful to Professor Jang Se-geun for his many advices and feedback that helped us receive this meaningful award. Through this competition, we experienced various fields such as design, control, analysis, processing, and manufacturing, which became an opportunity to develop our mechanical aptitude. Although we faced difficulties selecting ideas, thanks to good team members, we wisely resolved them and proceeded with the project. In the future, we want to further develop this product to automatically recognize individual body types and enable angle adjustments."

Oh Ha-ryeong, Vice President of Industry-Academic Research and Director of the LINC 3.0 Project Group at Kookmin University, said, "Our LINC 3.0 Project Group holds the capstone design competition annually to actively support students in building practical skills through collaboration with team members from various majors and fostering pride in their fields of study. We will actively support students' creative ideas to benefit companies and local communities."