Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

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.

More info at Toyota.

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.

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