VIDEO: Designability shares video about a day in the life of a mechanical engineer

Bath-based design charity Designability has shared a video about what it’s like to live a ‘day in the life’ of one of the charity’s mechanical engineers, Tom Baggott.

In the video, Tom says that being a mechanical engineer involves a lot of ‘hands on’ work, mainly for prototyping and getting products ready for production.

He explains that he is currently working on a new prototype for the Wizzybug, a powerchair designed specifically for children under five that helps children with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, spina bifida or muscular dystrophy, as well as children with amputations or a rare developmental delay affecting their ability to walk.

Designability offers its Wizzybug powerchairs free of charge to children across the British Isles through a loan scheme. After families or therapists request a Wizzybug through the scheme, children can keep the mobility aid as long as they need it.

Tom says that he is currently looking at prototypes around the Wizzybug’s drive train, which is the motors and power out to the wheel. As a mechanical engineer, he says that he is looking into some new designs for the powered wheelchair.

Additionally, in the video, Tom also describes why he enjoys his role as a mechanical engineer at Designability, commenting: “Sometimes in big engineering sectors, like transport or power, the work you do kind of gets lost within these huge projects which you don’t always get to see the outcome of. Or at least not the work that you do directly.

“One of the things that I love about working for Designability is that we are doing work that directly impacts people’s lives now and straight away. We are seeing that impact as we work almost.”

As part of Tom’s everyday routine, Designability schedules virtual meeting so the team can discuss what projects they have been working on.

Watch the video below: