Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

As we follow the technological advancements in field of assistive devices for the last five years, we are shocked by products on the market now and 5 years ago. Although we covered many news technology announcements, scientific breakthrougs and wrote about prototype products that are coming to market in 1-2 years, this still did not happen.

We can not disagree with Merlexi Craft people (manufacturer of plastic wheelchairs in the USA) in comment here when they say that most concept wheelchairs never make it to market even if they receive National Institute of Health funding. Major obstacle on the road to new products is extensive testing and govt regulations regarding to Medicare/caid. While smaller outfits and innovators have always had trouble finding funding; it now looks that bureaucratic/paperwork obstacles are even harder to break, not to mention that you need experienced people/lawyers just to navigate thru all the regulations and updates of updates on regulations…

Therefore public expects new products from big players, same companies that are on the bleeding development edge in various sectors (robotics, automobilism, autonomous home assistance devices) like Toyota, Honda. But even here – where are the Toyota i-Real? The Toyota i-Swing? The Honda Personal Mobility Device U3-X and Honda’s Robotic Leg or CLEG? Where is the powered ExoSkeleton? Where is the mind controlled electric wheelchairs controller? Where are stem cell powered engines/hybrid batteries? Where and when?

So for the near term we are not optimistic about the development of the assistive technology market and products. Way from lab and prototype to market is too long, too steep and too expensive!

NOTE: few words about Merlexi Craft – they are manufacturers of plastic manual wheelchairs, that are cheap (sub $1000) and light. They are made from lightweight plastic, have folding contoured seats, come in various colors and offer quick-release wheels/footrests… Special versions are available for hospitals – and such wheelchair is appropriate for magnetic imaging, is safe, durable and shellock approved… If would be nice to see if company can fit an electric motor on top of the plastic frame and create economically feasible electric wheelchairs for mass market… See introductory video below:

Honda announced the personal mobility device, the U3-X. Device looks like robotic unicycle, and is designed to help people with disabilities to move around. Honda will showcase U3-X personal mobility device at Tokyo Motor show later in October.

U3-X is based on technology developed in Honda’s humanoid robot Asimo. Honda is well known for its R&D in robotics and assistive technology, and although its announcements are many (see the one about artificial robotic leg) most of this is still years away from production and sale. Looks like Honda is competing heavily against local rival Toyota, which is also aggressive on robotics and research – and both move in similar direction (toyota shows segway personal transporter with seat, toyota and mind controlled wheelchair, toyota i-swing personal mobility device)…

Anyhow, U3-X is on contrary with Toyota’s i-Swing a small device, which is also very portable. It can be carried around and put in trunk with ease. U3-X has a seat height a bit higher than an average person’s waist line, so passenger must “jump” on it to commence the ride. Passenger then puts his his feet to the foot rests (similar as found on motor bikes). The rest is already known from segway – passenger leans in the direction he wants to go, and U3-X personal mobility device moves. It can drive in 8 directions (cross and diagonally as well) and reaches a top speed of 3,7 MHP (5,5 km/h) – meaning that it moves at pace of average persons walk.

Honda’s chairman Takanobu Ito commented that “And if my legs get a little weak, I would like to have one of these around the house. It makes it easy to move about.”. We guess he has a big house… Honda did not want to comment on price and availability of the U3-X nor any plans to produce similar versions of power wheel chair or electric wheel chair devices like toyota i-swing where user sits and leans back on it…

See link to video on the next page.

Read more >>>

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).

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.

Read more >>>

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.

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 >>>

Image via WikipediaTankchair LLC recently announced their 2008 model/remake of the original TankChair (from 2006)… The new and improved model, named Mk2 is electric wheelchair that was developed with mud, snow, streams, sand/gravel and other outdoor terrain in mind, allowing the user to get back to nature, or conquer home environment – including climbing up and down the stairs…

Similar than all-terrain electric wheelchair we previously wrote about 2008 model has lower center of gravity, more torque, stronger chassis, and improved incline and decline approach angles. It has rubberized tracks instead of standard wheels and looks more like a miniature tank than any of electric wheelchair cousins. It also has a full-height chair with abundant cushioning for added comfort to smoothen a bumpy ride. Electric wheelchair is using rubber tracks and high torque electric motors, and manufacturer guarantees that it will take you just about anywhere. Even the urban street and stairs, with a incline accent of up to 45-degrees!!

Read more >>>

Update to story on indian company manufacturing electric wheelchairs…. Watch nice video of live demonstration of Ostrich Mobility electric wheelchair – first electric wheelchair completely designed and produced in India. While device is expensive for 7 million of disabled Indians, it is one of the most affordable electric

Read more >>>

According to this page, Japan company is developing an electric wheelchair with integrated toilet functions. Development is at stage of creating a feasibility study, but the ultimate objective is to develop an "electric wheelchair with toilet functions," a piece of welfare support equipment ideal for handicapped. Whole concept is rarely found in existing welfare equipment today, although some of the models are available on the market… Majority of users rely on automation and accessories – elevators etc, to help them move from wheelchair to toilet and back.

Product is designed to help maintain the self-respect of elderly or disabled people, and since world turns around money, it is worth noting that elderly population is increasing, and that baby-boom generation is projected to enter "need for assisted living" phase in 10-20 years. The wheelchair will be designed for elderly or disabled persons who are unable to move from their wheelchairs to toilet seats by raising their bodies with their own arm strength, and who cannot be attended to by caregivers regularly.

Read more >>>

In start of October, a powered wheelchair that moves when user thinks on particular word, was demonstrated by American company Ambient. The electric wheelchair operates by catching the signals sent from

user's brain to their larynx (voice box), even when there is no audiable sound. Wheelchair was developed to help people with spinal injuries, or neurological problems like cerebral palsy or motor neurone disease. This revolutionary brain interface allows user to operate computer and other equipment despite serious problems with muscle control. Similar to autonomous remote controlled electric wheelchair we already wrote about, this system allows user even more freedom, as all user has to do is think of the word. System consists of larynx (voice box), which user must be able to operate – and most likely can, even in the event of poor muscle coordination necessary to produce coherent speech.

This breakthrough voice boy system called larynx control system, or shortly "Audeo", was developed by researchers Michael Callahan and Thomas Coleman at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US, who together also founded Ambient. 

Read more >>>

Even if visitors of Tokyo Motor Show expected revolution in electric car design, Toyota's i-Real is a leap forward compared to today's electric wheelchairs. i-Real is answer on how to relax legs, but ride in personal transporter device that looks as sleek as a Segway?

Now the next generation in this exciting personal mobility series is here – as almost every year on Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota introduced a new high end electric wheelchair concept, the new i-Real three-wheeled chair. The i-REAL is a personal mobility vehicle that represents the next stage of Toyota's personal mobility vehicle development, following the PM, i-unit and i-swing.

Toyota's i-real might lead to the next generation mobility devices for the handicapped. Its great design and mobility makes is ideal companion for metro users. i-Real represents next-generation of personal transport, positioned as a tough competitor to Segway offering an adjustable wheelbase – at slow speeds and in crowds the space between the two front wheels and one rear is small, thereby increasing maneuverability and lifting the rider up to eye-level…

Toyota is already dominating the green vehicle scene thanks to its Prius hybrid electric car. But Toyota is looking for expansion to new territories, and personal mobility is hotter than ever.  

Opinions are still divided – is it wheelchair, or is a scooter? Well, if you will call Segway a scooter, you can call i-Real a wheelchair. But truth is that both are new type of personal mobility devices, urban personal transporters.

Toyota is targeting i-Real at a variety of seated users who need to move around. Transporter offers a upright seating position that reclines as speed increases. Maximum speed of device is

Read more >>>