Ypsilanti /Ann Arbor teens invent ‘Sitter-Upper’ for seniors

YPSILANTI, MI – A group of Ann Arbor-area high schoolers want to help the world move more freely through their new invention.

The “EMUiNVENTEAM,” led by Eastern Michigan University professor Shiri Vivek, has spent more than half a year crafting an invention designed to assist people age 65 and older, especially those in community-dwelling environments like senior centers, in changing positions safely and independently. 

Temporarily nicknamed the “Sitter-Upper,” the walker-like device aims to offer independence in mobility for those with trouble moving on their own.

“What we’re planning on making is something to help with multiple position changes - for example, helping someone get out of bed by themselves, helping them stand up and sit - that kind of stuff,” said Weiran “Alice” Jiang, the team’s communications lead and a Saline High School junior.

The team of four is one of eight groups of high school students nationwide tasked with recognizing, researching and tackling a problem facing their community by inventing a new way of solving it.

It was formed in summer 2023 as part of the Lemelson-MIT Program – a grant initiative founded in 1994 and based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to lead efforts to mold the next generation of inventors, officials said. All teams involved in the program are given $7,000 to kickstart their year-long invention journey.

The 2023-24 school year marks the 20th anniversary of the program’s InvenTeam project, and EMU’s first year taking part in it.

Jiang is joined by Saline senior and team lead Suhani Dalela; finance lead Jacob Shaw, a sophomore from Clarenceville High School; and Amy Liu, a Pioneer High School junior and the team’s sustainability lead.

Vivek, an EMU associate professor of marketing and supply chain management and executive director of the university’s EMUiNVENT program, oversees the group.

“They all come from different schools, and each school has its own personality,” Vivek said. “Earlier they were all separate, but it gives me a lot of pleasure to see them working together and understanding each other’s school district’s personality. They’re basically bringing their community here. It’s great to see how their horizons are expanding.”

After going through a technical review phase that ended in March, the EMUiNVENTEAM is working to finalize and test their yet-unnamed product ahead of its showcase at EurekaFest June 12. Hosted at MIT, the public event will bring together all eight teams from across the country to present their creations before industry leaders, scientists and college professors, Vivek said.

A good showing could earn the team a place in Microsoft’s #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program, which means Microsoft pays the cost of the patenting process for the invention.

The EMUiNVENTEAM boosted his confidence in talking to others both within his new group of friends and with the rest of the world, Shaw said.

“Before, I was not really talking to people - I was shy, and didn’t really have proper etiquette,” Shaw said. “I didn’t really know how to start a conversation with somebody. (The team) helped me be able to open up and talk to people more instead of just being in my own little box.”

Other high school students also assisted the invention process in its early phases, but are now less actively involved. Enoc Rico from Ypsilanti Community High School and Erica Robinson from Lincoln High School helped the team identify the issue of senior mobility and possible solutions when the team formed, Vivek said. Jennah Breadly of EMU’s Early College Alliance has also been helping with customer research since early 2024.

The team has benefitted from the help and guidance of Rick Cichewicz and Chris Taylor, the group’s technical and fabrication mentors, respectively. The team has also worked alongside InvenTeam Education Fellows Robin Jones and Kirstin Bullington.

The team is attempting to raise enough money to take all members and the full-scale version of their invention to Boston for EurekaFest. So far, they’ve raised $1,200 toward their $10,000 goal.

Donations are accepted through the EMU Foundation’s websiteby entering EMUiNVENT in the “search funds” field and leaving the comment “this donation is for the EMUiNVENT InvenTeam.”

The team can be reached by email at emuinventeam@gmail.com, and applications to be on next year’s team are now open online.

• Mitchell Kukulka | MKukulka@mlive.com

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