Although public and private spaces in Europe and North America are becoming increasingly wheelchair-friendly, it’s still not easy for the disabled to negotiate stairs and physical obstacles in day to day life. It’s so important that wheelchair users are able to have access to schools, leisure facilities, shops and public transport, but sometimes lifts and ramps are just not present. This is where the intelligent, robotic new line of wheelchairs come in handy.
The Intelligent Wheelchair
In 2012, Japan’s Chiba Institute of Technology developed the most technologically advanced wheelchair since electric chairs were first introduced. The significance of these intelligent wheelchairs is massive, as they are able to climb steps and ‘walk’ over obstacles, while still keeping the user level and comfortable. Omnidirectional models that are currently on the market do give more freedom of movement, but they don’t allow the user to navigate stairs, curbs, bumps and other real-world barriers that usually require either assistance or a ramp.
Transforming Legwork into a Four Wheel Format
The main reason that the Japanese intelligent wheelchair is so revolutionary is that it was designed to mimic the way a pair of human legs work. The robot wheelchair has five sensors on its feet, allowing it to sense whether there are obstacles nearby and to judge the distance of a single step. The five sensors work together to evaluate different kinds of terrain. The direction can be adjusted through the use of a joystick and the robot’s five axes and four wheels allows it to automatically adjust wheel height and mechanically elevate up and over when it reaches a step. All this occurs with minimum disturbance to the wheelchair user, due to a sliding seat and specially angled wheels. The seat level will be automatically readjusted on downward steps and slanted ramps for the comfort of the occupant.
Real Life Use
The robotic wheelchair will fit in the same accessible vehicles as a regular chair, so if you’re looking to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle or upgrade your existing vehicle, no special requirements will be necessary. The intelligent chair is most impressive when used in real life situations, as it has been designed with the individual in mind at all times. Stability and user experience were key features throughout the planning and construction process, and the chair also performs tricks that only wheels can achieve including moving over uneven surfaces like bumpy paving stones, while keeping the occupant on a level.
