A fall while getting out of a car changed the direction of Meera Ramaswami’s life. She watched her grandmother lose her balance during a moment that should have been routine, then saw the injury heal while the fear remained. Her grandmother became less willing to travel, and Meera began thinking about how a small loss of stability could lead to isolation and lost independence. That question eventually became Cargility, an Ann Arbor company developing a portable mobility aid that helps people enter and exit vehicles safely. Meera designed the device, tested prototypes, earned recognition through The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention and secured a US utility patent. As reported by The Henry Ford and Ann Arbor SPARK, the invention has grown from a family experience into a company founded by Meera and her mother, Praveena Ramaswami.A familiar moment with serious consequencesGetting into or out of a car is an ordinary action for most people, but it can become difficult after an injury, during ageing or for anyone with balance and mobility challenges. A person may need to twist, lower themselves, find a stable surface and stand on uneven ground, all while managing the distance between the seat and pavement.For Meera’s grandmother, that moment led to a fall. The physical injury eventually healed, but the emotional effect lasted longer. Fear of falling again changed how willing she was to leave home. A simple vehicle transfer became a barrier to travel, social connection and independence.Meera recognised that the problem was larger than one family. Older adults, people recovering from surgery or rehabilitation, people with disabilities and caregivers may all face difficulties during vehicle entry and exit. Existing solutions such as walking frames, canes or assistance from another person may not be convenient in the narrow space beside a car. Observation to design Meera began developing the concept in 2022, using a process of observation, prototyping and testing. She didn’t start with an abstract engineering problem, but rather looked at a specific moment in everyday life and asked what kind of support would make it safer. The device needed to be portable, strong and compatible with different passenger vehicles. It also had to be easy enough for a user or caregiver to position without complicated installation. A support that worked only in one type of car would have limited value, so adaptability became an important part of the design.The resulting product, Cargility, is a door to floor mobility assistive device. It engages with the striker in a vehicle’s doorframe and creates a stable support point. An articulating leg reaches the ground, allowing the user to lean on a railing while entering or exiting the vehicle.The design is intended to reduce fall risk and ease the physical strain placed on caregivers. It provides a fixed point of support during the transfer rather than requiring a person to rely on a moving car door or another individual’s strength.How the device worksThe Cargility tool is designed to connect with the striker plate, the metal component in the vehicle doorframe that receives the door latch. Once engaged, the device holds a stable relationship to the vehicle. Its articulating leg consists of two members connected by a pivot, so that the structure can accommodate various vehicle heights and configurations. When positioned correctly, the leg reaches the ground and supports a handrail or bar that the user can hold.The aim is to create a continuous point of stability between the vehicle and the ground. A person can use the rail while lowering into the seat or standing up, reducing the need to twist quickly or search for something to grip.The tool is not intended to replace a doctor, physical therapist or properly prescribed mobility aid. Its purpose is to make one specific part of everyday movement safer and more manageable. The device would still need to be attached correctly and users need to follow the instructions before they can rely on it. Testing and refining the inventionDeveloping the first concept was only the beginning. Meera tested different designs and compared their performance. Earlier descriptions of her work indicate that she created possible models, evaluated them and selected the design that performed best.This kind of testing is central to invention education. A promising idea may fail when exposed to weight, movement, different surfaces or different vehicle shapes.Prototypes expose weaknesses that aren’t apparent on paper. Meera’s work also involved a balancing act between conflicting requirements. The device had to be strong enough to hold a person, but portable enough to carry. It had to fit different cars, but be stable. It had to be easy for users, but not compromise safety. The process required engineering knowledge, but also empathy.A technically impressive device would not be useful if older adults or caregivers found it too complicated. Designing for real people meant considering reach, grip, balance, strength and confidence.Recognition through The Henry FordMeera’s invention gained recognition through the Invention Convention, a programme supported by The Henry Ford that encourages young people to identify problems and develop solutions. The programme teaches students to move through stages including constructing a prototype, testing it, revising the design and communicating the final idea.In 2022, Meera received top honours in four engineering categories at the Invention Convention held at the Henry Ford Museum.Those awards included innovation, safety, Make the World and the Grand Prize, which provided support for bringing the invention to the US Patent Office.The recognition helped Meera to validate the invention and gain access to a network of mentors, educators and organizations experienced in product development. It also helped turn the project from a student design into an innovation with commercial potential.For young inventors, programmes like the Invention Convention can provide something that classrooms often cannot. They offer a structured way to develop an idea, receive feedback and present it to people who understand engineering and entrepreneurship.From invention to patentCargility’s mobility concept eventually became a patented technology.Meera Ramaswami was awarded the US patent “Vehicle Access Mobility Tool” in December 2025. The patent describes a device that latches to a vehicle doorframe striker and has an articulating leg attached to the engagement portion. A patent does not mean a product is ready for mass production or on store shelves. It protects the claimed invention and establishes intellectual property rights. It was a major milestone, but more work is needed to make the patented design a reliable product, including manufacturing, testing, regulatory considerations, supply chains and consumer input. It showed that the device had moved beyond a school project and into a formal innovation process. It also created a foundation for building a company around the technology.A mother and daughter become co-foundersMeera did not build the company alone. She and her mother, Praveena Ramaswami, became co-founders of Cargility in 2025. Meera continued developing the technical solution, while Praveena left her career to focus full time on the business.The partnership combines engineering and commercial development. Meera understands the design and the problem that inspired it. Praveena has focused on evaluating the mobility ecosystem, building relationships and determining how the company can move toward manufacturing and customers. Starting a company for a physical product is not just having an invention. Founders need to find users, understand the healthcare and mobility market, figure out a pricing model, and decide how the device will be distributed. They must also test the product with the people it is meant to help.The mother daughter structure gives Cargility a personal connection to its mission. The company exists because a family experienced the emotional consequences of a fall and decided to look for a better way.The wider need for mobility supportCargility is aimed at people who may need additional stability during vehicle transfers. That includes older adults, people recovering from rehabilitation and caregivers who help family members get in and out of cars.Vehicle transfers are often overlooked in discussions about accessibility. Public buildings may have ramps and lifts, but the journey begins at home and frequently includes the space between a car seat and the ground. A person may be able to walk once standing but still struggle with the transition.A portable device could be useful for people who travel in different vehicles or do not want permanent equipment installed. It may also help caregivers avoid lifting or pulling, reducing strain on both people.The product’s success will depend on real world testing and user trust. People need confidence that a device will remain secure, work on their vehicle and support them when balance is uncertain.Building an Ann Arbor companyCargility is part of Ann Arbor’s expanding technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The city has programmes that connect founders with mentors, accelerators, university resources and funding opportunities. Ann Arbor SPARK has supported founders through initiatives including Entrepreneur Boot Camp, startup acceleration and other business programmes.For Cargility, that ecosystem can help bridge the gap between invention and commercial launch. Product development may require industrial designers, manufacturing partners, safety experts and investors. Local programmes can connect a small founding team with people who have experience in each area.The company has advanced to a working prototype with design for manufacturing completed and has been targeting an initial small production run and market launch. That stage is important because the best prototype is not always the easiest product to manufacture consistently. A design for manufacturing review helps identify ways to reduce complexity, control cost and maintain quality.A personal problem becomes a public solutionMeera’s story began with a private family moment, but the problem she identified is widely shared. Falls can change how older adults and people with mobility limitations view daily activities. Fear can lead to fewer outings, less social contact and greater dependence on others.The Cargility device cannot remove every risk associated with movement. It can, however, address one vulnerable transition with a practical support. The invention shows how innovation often begins when someone pays close attention to an ordinary problem that others have accepted as unavoidable.Its future will depend on continued testing, responsible manufacturing and feedback from users. But the path from grandmother’s fall to patent and company already demonstrates the power of human centred design.Meera did not begin with the intention of becoming a founder. She began by wanting to make one moment safer for someone she loved. That empathy became an engineering question, the question became a prototype and the prototype became Cargility, an Ann Arbor company working to help people move with greater confidence and independence.