Assistive devices are rapidly progressing thanks to new technologies. On electric wheelchair technology showcase site we provide first hand information on upcoming and future assistive technology. Read reviews of existing and previews of upcoming products and even interviews with developers and researchers! In 2009/2010 timeframe we expect to review first hand - thought controlled electric wheelchair, electric mobility scooter with range of 50 miles, and first personal transporter devices for masses...
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User still needs to attach sensor grid on the head. The EEG sensor cap measures electrical activity in the brain through five electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes. These are placed above the areas of the brain which handle motor movement. The sensors interpret the signals they pick up and translate them into motion. System processes thought patterns without learning or training and translates them into movement of wheelchair. Electric wheelchair can accordingly move left, right or forward. Sensory system is processing data in real time, so delay between the thought and action of wheelchair is less than 125 ms. Competitive solutions require substantially more time – growing to seconds, which makes movement less natural and more difficult. Toyota’s solution (well, actually Toyota is only a sponsor of researchers from BSI-Toyota collaboration center) does not require the driver to learn special “signals”, but instead this mind-controlled electrical wheelchair will move forward when driver thinks of walking. According to Toyota the wheelchair is able to understand a record 95% of all commands coming from the drivers.
Toyota representatives described growing demand on similar accessibility products by Japan’s growing older population (in 40 years the percentage of seniors will account for more than 40% of Japanese population). Thinking is natural, and requires less learning so brain-machine interface system will be more robust and simpler than voice-controlled system. System even “learns” by analyzing the behavior of the driver, which means that driver can improve the accuracy over time.
Japan has been always very strong in advanced robotics, and recent encourage by government fueled new research and development even further. It comes as no surprise, that other Japanese companies like Honda and Hitachi, are also working on brain-wave-machine technologies.
The Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) has recently invented a self-navigating electric wheelchair. But this is no ordinary electric wheelchair that operates through GPS because is uses the latest Wi-Fi technology that can also be used indoors. To operate this device, it has a microphone and screen for visual and audio input options to make it easier to use. According to its one of its developers Nicolas Roy, the Wi-Fi operated wheelchair can learn and adapt to its user through voice recognition. Since it can be used indoors, it will be able to identify a certain building, as to where the user has to go even on the first “orientation.”
For its initial test, there were 100 patients with multiple sclerosis and brain diseases at a Boston Home in Dorchester who tried out this system. Other considerations for improvement are still studied at MIT by other scientists involved in this project that uses Wi-Fi like side-field cameras and laser range finders setup with computers to create an internal map around the environment as the user moves around, even outdoors. Roy also thought about adding collision-avoidance system that uses detectors for the wheelchair to refrain from bumping into walls and other wheelchairs, as well as other obstacles.
This is a bit older news, but somehow it got unnoticed by us at the time of launch… But still it is so interesting, that we are fixing our mistake and running a story! French company named HMC2Development has launched a stair-walking motorized wheel chair named TOPCHAIR in mid 2007! The motorized wheel chair was in development since 2001. This was even before the well known and world-wide appraised iBot Electric electric wheelchair… But the iBOT is a wheelchair that runs on wheels, and was first developed in 90s. While it can actually rise up on the rear wheels to attain a stand position and also has a certain capabilities of climbing stairs, the fact that it runs on wheels, makes this type of wheelchair less stable and so it has its limitations compared to the Top chair stair climbing wheelchair.
Topchair uses different approach to conquering the stairs, as it uses rubber tracks similar to those found in tanks. This technology allows Topchair motorized wheel chair to go up or down the 20 cm high step (8 inch) made from metal or wood or concrete with maximum slope of 33° (65%). It does so while user sits comfortably and safely onboard without any help of fixed structure like a ramp and with no need for an attendant.
Topchair uses two 60 Ah gel batteries, allowing it 35 km driving authonomy or over 300 steps in a single charge.
You are a big, strong person. All your life you’ve been known as rugged, out of doors, and powerful. Your first toy was a fire engine, your first pet was a husky, and when you got your first car, it was a truck. You know all the back roads by heart and you’ve never let anything get in your way for long. Now, life has put a new obstacle in your path; physical disability. Are you the type of person that is going to let that slow you down? Doesn’t sound like it to me! If life says you need a wheelchair, then you should demand one that matches who you are. A heavy duty person needs a heavy duty wheelchair.
The difference between a normal or electric chair and their heavy duty counterparts lies mainly in the construction. A conventional wheelchair will work soundly for many years on pavement, asphalt and indoors. They are meant for mainly urban and suburban environments. But try and take a conventional model down a trail, or over other bumpy terrain, and more than likely it can break. Read more >>>
Owning a portable wheelchair is an important first step towards reclaiming the independence that a disability can take away from you. Mobility is often times a challenge for the disabled, but it need not be. Putting an emphasis on portability instead of overall ability can change one’s entire outlook on life.
Owning a portable wheelchair means several things, some of them bad, but many of them positive. Consider that most wheelchairs can be a two person undertaking. This means that while in your chair, you will have a friend, family member or loved one always behind you, helping you on your way. For many, this is very comforting. Companionship of this sort will also help to bring you closer to those around you, and help elucidate the many reasons to be happy that these people are in your life. Read more >>>
Knowing the right wheelchair for your needs is crucial to finding happiness in your life. Depending on your type of handicap and several other factors, you may find yourself looking for an electric wheelchair. You should always consult with your doctor before making any decision of this magnitude, but rest assured that you have many viable options. Making sure that you have the right electric wheelchairs scooters can make your life so much easier.
First, what is the difference between a scooter and a normal wheelchair? The main difference is, more power! While a normal wheelchair is propelled by your arm strength (or hopefully, the arm strength of a good friend or family member, walking behind you) a scooter is powered by a battery. While in an electric scooter, the occupant simply pushes a joystick in the direction they want to go, and a silent, powerful motor drives the chair. It is safe, efficient, and in some cases users report that the experience is downright fun. Read more >>>
Finding out that you will be living with a disability can be a devastating, traumatic event. It means changes in your life in many ways. Many will be difficult at first, but not all of these changes are bad. Acceptance of your disability is the first step towards emotional recovery, and with that acceptance comes the realization that when life gives you lemons, it also gives you all of the ingredients to make lemonade.
Life in a medical wheelchair offers a unique perspective. While it would be easy to focus on the negative, and say that what the standing can see, the seated cannot, the opposite is also equally true. What can be seen from a chair cannot be seen by the standing. Your view of the world may be slightly different, but you are still looking at the same beautiful, varied and fluid sphere. Take the time to appreciate what you can see. Realize that this consciousness is a gift, and use that awareness to take pleasure in things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Read more >>>
The questions surrounding wheelchair mobility are many and varied. Where can and can’t a person in a wheelchair go? What sort and quality of ride should be expected? How much of an expense will maintenance and repairs be? How does the quality of certain kinds of wheelchairs match up? As with any question of this magnitude, you should ask a doctor or other professional to advise you on the specifics of your situation. Nevertheless, there are a number of general guidelines that you can learn on your own.
A wheelchair is really only as capable as the terrain it is going over. Think of it as a car. You may have the nicest Humvee and the best driving skill, but if the road isn’t passable, none of that matters. This is true of wheelchairs just as it is true of people walking. So, your wheelchair mobility is more a question of the decisions you make regarding where you take your chair. Read more >>>
The shape of the Toyota i-swing looks like it is something that we wear and does not give the feeling of something that we drive. This model was first came into prominence in the Auto Show at Tokyo in 2005, and was showed again in perfected form in late 2008. The straight two wheeler model occupies very less space on the crowd filled places like sidewalk, etc. It helps you in gliding at a decent pace and on an even pace to that the partner you are having a conversation with. If you want to increase the speed, you can convert into three wheeled model and can be driven easily on the road. It has an inbuilt AI which helps in learning the habit of ours and the personal preferences making it just as an extension of your own self.
This model of Toyota i-swing will help us never having to walk anywhere else with its multi mode conversion options. Thus with its two-wheeled mode you can use it when you are walking and if you want move faster or drive at the regular speed. It actually gives us a wearable sort of feeling when using it. This would surely become an alternative to car in the very distant future.
The long term work of Toyota on single person travel vehicle has got its shape in the form of Toyota i-swing. This is also the result of their long drawn research that they put in on personal mobility vehicles.
The control of this i-swing is in the form of joysticks, actually with two of them. They maximum speed that this i-swing can achieve is 36 mph. It is tentatively priced at between $7000 to $8000. But what makes this really unsafe is the fact that driving at 36 mph without any protection or airbags. Thus Toyota has to work on this fact before they actually bring this into market.
Honda is constantly working on making a device that gives the user an advantage in regular movements, and this device will add up to the strength and also reduce the stress caused by physical exertions. It came up from the advanced research done by Honda for the upcoming robot ASIMO. While Honda’s robotic leg will not totally mobilize electric wheelchair bound users, it might offer new level of freedom to all with minor disabilities.
This suit will be first tested by Honda at the Honda car assembly plant in Saitama. It will help the workers in reducing the work stress and will lower the number of injuries. Also there is some Japanese firm that is coming up such metal suits but not very closer to reality. Cyberdyne Corp. has already come up with one such device with both legs and is now planning for both arms and legs. This suit will help users not get stressed and will increase their strength in multiples. Similar prosthetic device was announced recently by ReWalk.
Honda has taken the initiative basically to help the users who are handicapped. They are producing robotic movement assistance devices keeping in mind the needs of handicaps. This new robotic leg will help the users normal movement, it will just push some force to reduce the stress on the joints while making movements like walking, climbing stairs or semi crouching. Honda is aiming towards making the robotic leg more towards real world situations. Honda has made the device quite simpler than the cyberdyne’s one. It basically consists of a seat, frame and shoes. To use the device, user has to put the shoes on and then lift the seat into position. After wearing the device it takes off the stress from muscles of knee, joints and hips.
Honda made the medium size suit for people in the height range of 5′ 6" to 5′ 10". The weight specifications are 6.5 Kg. also Honda said that the suit is partially self-supporting as it has two motors. These motors run on Lithium ion battery that can run for 2 hours on a single charge. Honda says that the product is superior to the competitor as it supports the natural motion. The assistance that is provided is in concert with leg and is aimed towards the user’s center of gravity. Due to this factor the motion provided by the motor is unique and natural says Honda.
Assistive devices are rapidly progressing thanks to new technologies. On electric wheelchair technology showcase site we provide first hand information on upcoming and future assistive technology. Read reviews of existing and previews of upcoming products and even interviews with developers and researchers! In 2009/2010 timeframe we expect to review first hand - thought controlled electric wheelchair, electric mobility scooter with range of 50 miles, and first personal transporter devices for masses...
Devices controlled with brain-waves are becoming a reality. On Monday, June 29th 2009, Toyota demonstrated an electric wheelchair, controlled by user’s brain waves. Approach is similar to other stories we covered in past (Live demo of mind-controlled electric wheelchair, Brain Controlled Electric Wheelchair and Mind Controlled Mouse Pointer (part 1), Brain Controlled Electric Wheelchair and Mind Computer Mouse Pointer (part 3 + The conclusion), Intelligent Autonomous Remote Controlled Electric Wheelchair). 
Toyota representatives described growing demand on similar accessibility products by Japan’s growing older population (in 40 years the percentage of seniors will account for more than 40% of Japanese population). Thinking is natural, and requires less learning so brain-machine interface system will be more robust and simpler than voice-controlled system. System even “learns” by analyzing the behavior of the driver, which means that driver can improve the accuracy over time. 
The Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) has recently invented a self-navigating electric wheelchair. But this is no ordinary 
Finding out that you will be living with a disability can be a devastating, traumatic event. It means changes in your life in many ways. Many will be difficult at first, but not all of these changes are bad. Acceptance of your disability is the first step towards emotional recovery, and with that acceptance comes the realization that when life gives you lemons, it also gives you all of the ingredients to make lemonade.
Life in a medical wheelchair offers a unique perspective. While it would be easy to focus on the negative, and say that what the standing can see, the seated cannot, the opposite is also equally true. What can be seen from a chair cannot be seen by the standing. Your view of the world may be slightly different, but you are still looking at the same beautiful, varied and fluid sphere. Take the time to appreciate what you can see. Realize that this consciousness is a gift, and use that awareness to take pleasure in things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
A wheelchair is really only as capable as the terrain it is going over. Think of it as a car. You may have the nicest Humvee and the best driving skill, but if the road isn’t passable, none of that matters. This is true of wheelchairs just as it is true of people walking. So, your wheelchair mobility is more a question of the decisions you make regarding where you take your chair.
It has an inbuilt AI which helps in learning the habit of ours and the personal preferences making it just as an extension of your own self.
This model of Toyota i-swing will help us never having to walk anywhere else with its multi mode conversion options. Thus with its two-wheeled mode you can use it when you are walking and if you want move faster or drive at the regular speed. It actually gives us a wearable sort of feeling when using it. This would surely become an alternative to car in the very distant future.
The long term work of Toyota on single person travel vehicle has got its shape in the form of Toyota i-swing. This is also the result of their long drawn research that they put in on personal mobility vehicles.
Honda is constantly working on making a device that gives the user an advantage in regular movements, and this device will add up to the strength and also reduce the stress caused by physical exertions. It came up from the advanced research done by Honda for the upcoming robot 
Honda has taken the initiative basically to help the users who are handicapped. They are producing robotic movement assistance devices keeping in mind the needs of handicaps. This new robotic leg will help the users normal movement, it will just push some force to reduce the stress on the joints while making movements like walking, climbing stairs or semi crouching. Honda is aiming towards making the robotic leg more towards real world situations. Honda has made the device quite simpler than the cyberdyne’s one. It basically consists of a seat, frame and shoes. To use the device, user has to put the shoes on and then lift the seat into position. After wearing the device it takes off the stress from muscles of knee, joints and hips. 