Rolling Dance Chair Project

D E S C R I P T I O N O F P R O J E C T
The Rolling Dance (Chair) Project was begun in 2006 with the primary goal of exploring motion and mobility in innovative ways through re-conceptualizing current wheelchair and assistive technology designs and developing several mobility device options for use in dance and/or social settings. The project unites two very different disciplines and areas of expertise, bringing together the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Rehabilitation Engineering Program) with the School of Theatre and Dance towards this central goal. Faculty member Merry Lynn Morris from the School of Theatre and Dance initiated the project idea and began collaborating with Stephen Sundarrao and Dr. Rajiv Dubey to propose a grant which would fund the project initially. Beyond the intent to increase participatory opportunities and choreographic options in dance for differently-abled individuals, the project also has sought to increase interdisciplinary opportunities amongst students and faculty in terms of research, service, curriculum, and community engagement.

October 26, 2005
Initial meeting to propose dance-related design project to Engineering: Merry Lynn Morris (Dance/Theatre Faculty), Dr. Rajiv Dubey (Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering), and Stephen Sundarrao (Associate Director, Rehabilitation and Technology Program).

July 1, 2006 – Official start date for project
Grant for project approved by Deans of Engineering and Visual and Performing Arts. Principal Investigators: Merry Lynn Morris, Stephen Sundarrao, and Dr. Rajiv Dubey.

Please click the "Design" tab for further detail regarding the projects development.

Bio-sketches of Faculty Involved
Dr. Rajiv V. Dubey is a tenured professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is also the PI and Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology Program. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. His research background includes design, simulation and testing of haptic interfaces and assistive devices for persons with disabilities. His publications include rehabilitation engineering and robotic/telerobotic applications in healthcare. He has served on several review panels for the National Science Foundation and was the associate editor of the IEEE Journal on Robotics and Automation from 1989 to 1997. He has been distinguished by awards that include Favorite Professor in the College of Engineering Award from the Student Teacher Education Association, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1987; National Science Foundation Research Initiation Award, July 1989; B. Ray Thompsan Professorship Award, University of Tennessee, 1998. He received the President's award for Research at USF in 2003.
Stephen Sundarrao is the Associate Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology Program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at USF. His undergraduate and graduate education are in Mechanical Engineering (Bangalore University and University of South Florida, respectively) and he has nearly 15 years experience as a rehabilitation engineer and 10 years experience managing a statewide program. He is certified by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Practitioner and Rehabilitation Engineer. He is on the Board of Directors of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association and the Florida Department of Health's Disability Taskforce on Bioterrorism. He teaches the Capstone Design Course that develops 10-15 new innovation technologies a year for individuals with disabilities. He recently received the Presidential Award from NMEDA and an award from the University of Miami for Course Development and Recruitment for their online training in AT. He is actively involved with the State DVR program to develop policy and training for better integration of RT services.
Merry Lynn Morris holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and choreography from Florida State University. She is an instructor in the dance program at the University of South Florida, and she serves as the Academic Advisor for the School of Theatre and Dance. She also works with students at the University of Tampa, helping to integrate/unify arts/dance awareness amongst institutions and individuals within the Tampa community. Her background experience and training in dance includes extensive classical ballet training expanded by undergraduate and graduate study in various modern dance techniques/styles and other dance forms. She has been teaching dance-related courses at USF since 1998.
Ms. Morris seeks out interdisciplinary opportunities in which her movement background and expertise can be utilized and expanded. She began exploring the venue of "mixed ability dance" 5 years ago, and as caregiver to a disabled father for the past 19 years, her interest and awareness in disability needs has been ever-present. "Mixed ability dance" or "integrated dance" are terms which have been used to refer to dance which involves individuals with and without varying physical disabilities moving/performing together. Merry Lynn is interested in finding the possibilities of expression which can be uniquely discovered through all ability levels.
Ms. Morris continues to pursue research and study in the area of dance medicine/kinesiology and she is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), an organization which unites dance educators and physicians to facilitate the exchange of new ideas and research in the expanding field of dance medicine/science. Dance medicine encompasses the areas of dance injury prevention and conditioning, movement patterning, and (dance) teaching methodology.
Dr. Kathryn De Laurentis is the Research Coordinator in the Center for Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology, and the Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory at the University of South Florida. She also is a founder and the managing partner of Fourier Designs, LLC – a developer of innovative assistive technologies in central Florida. Kathryn De Laurentis received her Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Her work and research experience is in design, development, simulation, advanced actuation, and novel fabrication of next-generation mechanisms, biomimetic devices, mechatronic and robotic systems, and rehabilitation and assistive devices for medical and space applications. She has published her work in numerous national and international conference and journal publications, and holds one patent on the application of smart material based artificial muscles in assistive devices and has a patent pending for a novel powered multi-articulated prosthetic wrist.

Dr. De Laurentis is a member of several professional associations and is a committee member on the Machine Elements and Systems Subcommittee – American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Mechanisms Committee; and the Rutgers University, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Advisory Board. She has received several awards for her work from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the American Association of University Women, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Graduate School at Rutgers University.