Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

Today experts from Veda International Robot Research and Development Centre in Japan, unvieled the prototype of a new type of electric wheelchair. New, high tech robotic wheelchair looks more like a scooter than traditional wheelchair, but it promises greater mobility for injured hospitalized patients, and hopes to replace not only existing wheelchairs but also two-wheeled vehicles of future.

New electric wheelchair is called Rodem. User sits on the four-wheeled wheelchair similar like on scooter. User rests his knees and chest on the cushions, steering the wheelchair with a joystick wile holding on to motorbike-style handles. The result is that user feels less load on their body.  

The whole new approach to electric wheelchair design allows users to mount the device more easily, and dismount it quickly and with less strain and pain as well. Target audience are elderly, hospitalized for smaller injuries which prevent them from freely moving around without help. Rodem is lessening reliance on care-givers to lift these patients.

Rodem promises greater mobility. Its prototype was demonstrated in the medical university in Tokyo. The two main wheels of the Rodem are independently driven by a control valve type lead battery. Autonomy of the electric wheelchair is around four hours per charge. Maximum moving speed is 6km/h, but can be set to lower limits as well. The dimensions of the Rodem are equivalent to the size of a normal wheelchair, and it weights about 200 lbs (100kg). It also features small minimum turning diameter.

While western nation’s (and Japan’s) populations are growing fast, and these kind of nursing robots are intended for them, the inventors say they have no immediate plans to commercialize the new vehicle. Their primary goal is to meet and exceed the governmental safety standards, but they remain open to offers from private companies.

TMsuk Robotic’s president  Yoichi Takamoto said the Rodem may also be used by people who are not disabled to simply ride and enjoy. Takamoto added that Rodem was too simple to be called a robot at this point in time, but that it may evolve into one by adding new robot-like features like example, that it comes to your bedside when you call for it.

Future is in deed interesting for next generation of electric wheelchairs, as Toyota recently showed off a mind controlled electric wheelchair, while other researchers announced wifi controlled wheelchair…