This Accessory Transforms Manual Wheelchairs Into Electric Rides
- Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:21pm by
Liz Klimas
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A manual wheelchair may be the better option sometimes, while in other circumstances an electric scooter would be more convenient. To eliminate the hassle of switching between two types of mobility — and the expense of having both — Japanese developers created an attachment that would transform any wheelchair into an electric version.
(Photo: Gizmag)
Gizmag (via Gizmodo) reports seeing this technology at the recent Tokyo Motor Show. Gizmag says WHILL — as it’s called — is currently a prototype that clamps onto the outer sides of a wheelchair with a bar crossing over in front of the user, allowing them to control the device.
Here‘s more on the device’s specs and mobility:
Each of the [wheel] hubs contains a separate 24-volt motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. These turn the chair’s wheels, propelling it up to a top speed of 20 km/h (12.5 mph). The battery reportedly takes two hours to charge, and offers a range of approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles).
Not unlike piloting a Segway, users steer by leaning in the direction that they wish to travel, with a force sensing mechanism in the control section varying the rotational speed of the wheels accordingly.
WHILL developers. (Photo: Gizmag)
As of right now, WHILL is reportedly finding wheelchair users to test the device in the field and provide feedback, which will be incorporated into the commercial product.
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rdietz7
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:39amThe Japanese are awesome!
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:03pmWhen it comes to saving billions on research and development by taking the existing products / inventions of others and improving them… I agree.
Report Post »Kimmiemffl
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:56pmAs a person with a spinal chord injury who has a manual wheelchair and power chair, I can’t even begin to say how awesome this would be to have! Oh! and btw, Baddoggy, the “guvment” didn’t by either one of mine.
Report Post »txn4justice
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:14pmCool. Got to watch out though. It might need wheelie bars!
Report Post »paintbrushbright
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:01pmTo wide to go through regular door openings.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:24pmAren’t lithium ion batteries the ones which caught fire in laptops? If those things caught fire, the user who is handicapped would be trapped!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:35pmOh great…something else i have to buy for a Government teat sucker. No thanks! Buy your own damn wheelchair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »RossPoldark
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 5:01amDo you think everyone that has a wheel chair relies on your tax dollars to buy it for them? I think not dear.
Report Post »HawkEyeTx
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:24pm#
Report Post »Will it fit into handicapped restroom stalls?
What is the minimum household door width?
What is the maximum ramp incline?
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:13pm.
Report Post »How fast does it go?………..
Carter John
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:05pmThis is a great idea, why haven’t we come up with this yet? Oh wait, if you do came up with the next light bulb idea and make profits. You get taxed into oblivion.
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 4:35pmI think I almost always enjoy Liz’s columns. This one is no exception. Tokyo comes out with some interesting devices. This one is genius. I think the funnest one I’ve seen is the umbrella shoes.
Report Post »spudwhite
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 4:31pmWonderful, this innovation will probably bring economical motorized chairs to the vast number of folks who can‘t afford or don’t qualify for an expensive electric scooter/chair. Kudos to the team involved.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:37pmWho does not qualify? If you want one, you can always get one free if you are a Guvment teat sucker. They have cracked down a little, but I see FAT perople getting them only because they are FAT! That is roberry!!!
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