Mobility Disabilities, Artificial Intelligence, wheelchairs
Wheelchair Innovative Designs
What does technology bring to the realm of wheelchair design?
Wheelchair design is the application of concepts to create a manual or electrically propelled chair for people who find walking difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disabilities.
In this blog, we have picked different and innovative designs that are currently in the public space to test, try, learn, and improve the wheelchair designs in the current market.
It is not news that creative people are putting their talent to use in the wheelchair design world. With the introduction of AI, creative designers have increased the possibilities of bringing to the market, equipment that truly changes the lives of people with mobility restrictions.
We bring you the details on some of the innovative designs we thought were incredible promising. We hope you enjoy the read.
Unveiling Scewo’s Cutting-Edge Wheelchair ‘BRO’
Behold the futuristic marvel known as the BRO wheelchair by Scewo, a design prize-winning creation that introduces groundbreaking self-balancing and stair-climbing technology.
Acknowledged as a trailblazer in medical technology design, the BRO wheelchair ensures that individuals with limited mobility can cater to their personal needs, promoting independence in their daily lives.
The next era of wheelchairs
Conceived by four university students from ETH Zurich + ZHDK, Scewo returns with the innovative spinoff design, BRO. Breaking away from traditional conventions, this motorized wheelchair stands as a global pioneer by seamlessly transitioning to a two-wheeled mode when climbing stairs. The sleek seat automatically maintains an upright position during ascension, regardless of the number of steps. With an integrated slider allowing customizable height adjustments, whether at home or in a social setting, combined with modifiable head support for stability, the BRO sets a new standard for modern wheelchairs.
Simon Fanger, Head of Design at Scewo, expresses the significance of this creation, stating, “I get to give my signature to a product that changes people’s everyday lives for the better. That means more to me than just doing a job.” The design team’s commitment to clarity and essentialism has resulted in a distinct design language, positioning BRO as a trailblazing, next-generation wheelchair.
BRO boasts a plethora of features and settings, ranging from specific incline angles to customizable light and speed adjustments, making it ideal for traversing both uneven surfaces and indoor environments. The wheelchair’s advanced sensors and camera relay images to the user’s smartphone, offering comprehensive visual access.
Operable through the updateable Scewo app or the joystick and steering console, the seamless transition between the two methods ensures flexible and intuitive operation.
Scewo’s revolutionary wheelchair made its grand debut at CES 2023, showcasing its mobility advancements at this influential tech event. Visitors marveled at the self-balancing and stair-climbing technology, with some fortunate guests having the opportunity to experience it firsthand.
Designing accessibility for parents with mobility limitations
A group of American high school students, under the guidance of their teacher Matt Zigler at Bullis School in Maryland, has ingeniously developed a groundbreaking solution for parents with disabilities – the ‘Wheestroll.’
This innovative stroller attachment for wheelchairs empowers individuals with mobility challenges to enjoy the simple pleasure of taking their baby for a stroll.
Inspiration behind Wheelstroll
The spark for the Wheestroll ignited when new parents Jeremy and Chelsie King sought a safe way for Jeremy to actively parent from his wheelchair. Jeremy, who had undergone brain tumor surgery three years prior, faced physical challenges affecting his balance.
Chelsie, also a teacher at Bullis School, turned to her colleague Matt Zigler for assistance. The collaborative effort led to the creation of the Wheestroll.
The Wheestroll is a thoughtfully designed attachment primarily consisting of an infant car seat, ensuring the safety of the baby during the stroll. Enclosed in a sturdy frame and affixed to the wheelchair with two legs, the design is both secure and straightforward to construct. Moreover, the versatile design allows adaptation to different wheelchair sizes and baby seats.
With a mission to offer an accessible and budget-friendly solution for parents with disabilities, Zigler has gone a step further. He has created a comprehensive instructional video, providing step-by-step guidance. The Wheestroll not only promotes inclusivity but also ensures that the joy of strolling with one’s baby is attainable for everyone.
For a closer look at the Wheestroll and detailed instructions on assembly, Zigler has compiled a full parts list and step-by-step guide on his Instructables page. Witness the ingenuity of these high school students as they contribute to social good and redefine possibilities for parenting with disabilities.
Watch the inspiring journey and learn more about the Wheestroll in action: https://www.designboom.com/design/school-students-wheestroll-baby-stroller-attachment-for-wheelchairs-08-04-2021/
Revolutionizing Travel: The Foldable Freedom of Revolve Air Wheelchair
Andrea Mocellin has redefined the travel experience for wheelchair users with his visionary creation, the ‘Revolve Air’ foldable wheelchair. This innovative design seamlessly combines safety and sturdiness with collapsible wheels, allowing the wheelchair to fold down to fit the universally accepted cabin baggage dimensions. The result is a groundbreaking solution that liberates wheelchair users from the need to check in their valuable chairs and rely on airport assistance, restoring the freedom many take for granted.
“Revolve Air aims to give a total new independence to all active wheelchair users, who commute and travel every day,” explains Andrea Mocellin, the founder, and inventor of Revolve Air. The revolutionary design eliminates the need to check in the wheelchair hours before a flight, reducing the risk of damage. It also eliminates long waiting times at luggage delivery and the requirement for large car trunks, allowing Revolve Air owners the flexibility to drive smaller cars or use any available taxi. The reduced need for assistance along the journey enhances independence, enabling users to invest their time in what truly matters: the freedom to travel efficiently and lightly.
Key features of the air travel wheelchair
One of the standout features of Revolve Air is its revolutionary 24-inch foldable wheels. While folding in the same amount of time as standard wheelchairs, it saves up to 60% more space. This makes it an ideal companion for air travel and similar journeys. The wheelchair can effortlessly fit into small trunks, the passenger seat of compact cars, or even the overhead baggage hold on an airplane.
Simple and efficient wheelchair design
The process of opening or folding the Revolve Air wheelchair is straightforward, requiring no complicated maneuvers or feats of strength. Both wheels collapse along the same hub with the seat and backrest, ensuring compactness and easy transportability. The special foldable wheels also give the wheelchair an attractive, futuristic appearance when folded or in use.
While Andrea Mocellin personally developed and constructed the current prototypes, Revolve Air is now seeking the right partners to bring this revolutionary wheelchair to market. Mocellin is actively looking to connect with individuals, companies, and associations interested in supporting the development and manufacturing of a limited series of wheelchairs for testing with potential users worldwide. Additionally, partnerships are sought for the creation of revolutionary rental spaces in airports globally, making Revolve Air available for rent and streamlining travel experiences.
Experience the future of travel freedom with Revolve Air: https://www.designboom.com/design/revolve-air-foldable-wheelchair-fits-cabin-baggage-02-17-2021/
‘Resilience’ Motorized Wheelchair Blends Strength and Comfort”
motorized wheelchair ‘resilience’ in aluminum and metal
the ‘resilience’ motorized wheelchair redefines mobility, seamlessly blending luxury with functionality. Crafted with aluminum and leather, this indoor and outdoor wheelchair resembles a luxurious chaise lounge, concealing powerful wheels beneath its sleek frame. Drawing inspiration from the concept of resilience, designers Hanyoung Lee, Hyunsub Shin, Seongmin Ha, Soyeon Park, Jun Hong, and Haejun Park have created a symbol of strength and fortitude in assistive technology.
A symbol of strength and comfort
For the design team, ‘Resilience’ is not just a wheelchair; it’s a tool designed to empower individuals with reduced mobility, facilitating their daily activities while seated. The wheelchair’s flexible plastic components provide a cocoon of comfort, embracing the user in a soft cushion. Its robust aluminum frame ensures durability for prolonged use, and the tail light, crafted with transparent glass, sharply blinks to alert nearby passersby of its presence.
Engineered with strength and delicacy
Constructed predominantly with metal components, the wheelchair symbolizes a harmonious blend of strength and delicacy. The armrests feature a leather-clad controller, offering both comfort and functionality. This thoughtful design allows users to rest their arms on padded buttons, enhancing the overall user experience.
Self-sufficient mobility
The ‘Resilience’ wheelchair comes equipped with its own transport features. The oblong cushion of the headrest is cleverly propped onto the seat’s frame, providing a responsive bounce that follows the user’s head movements. The leg rests offer versatility, allowing users to pull them up for relaxation akin to a spa experience or bring them down when ready to power up the seat and embark on a journey.
Experience the blend of strength and luxury with the ‘resilience’ motorized wheelchair: https://www.designboom.com/design/motorized-wheelchair-resilience-chaise-lounge-brio-06-08-2023/
Delta Airlines debuts foldable seat that allows people with reduced mobility to sit in their wheelchairs
An aircraft seat design being developed to make air travel safer and more enjoyable for powered wheelchair users has received a boost, having received backing from Delta Flight Products (DFP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.
The design, named Air 4 All, is a flexible aircraft seat design intended to enable customers who use a powered wheelchair to remain in their own wheelchairs for the entire journey.
The design has been developed by a UK-based consortium comprising PriestmanGoode. Flying Disabled and SWS. The seat functions as a standard passenger seat, but when required by a wheelchair user, it can be converted to accommodate and secure a wheelchair during flight.
In 2021, Designboom reported the consortium Air4all – formed of PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled, SWS Certification, and Sunrise Medical – would design a chair system that could enable wheelchair users to remain in their seats the entire flight. Now, Delta Air Lines has picked up the proposal and is gearing to fit a foldable seat inside its airplanes to allow wheelchair users to just roll and attach their powered chairs to the back post of the cabin seats.
The first full prototype is set to be unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 (AIX) in Hamburg between June 6th and 8th, 2023. Operating under the airline’s subsidiary Delta Flight Products (DFP), the wheelchair-friendly prototype is dubbed a first-of-its-kind airplane seat since the design can let travelers who use a powered wheelchair stay in their own wheelchairs for the entire journey. DFP has partnered with UK-based consortium Air4All on the seat, and PriestmanGoode is the design lead in the consortium.
The prototype design follows its cues from the foldable chairs found in cinemas but with metal legs. When folding it up, all the parts of the legs get inserted and concealed into the bottom part of the chair to save space and make way for an unobstructed shape. The powered wheelchair then is positioned until it locks up through the latch-like system attached to the cabin’s floor. The lock-and-go mechanism makes it easier for the users to attach and detach their wheelchairs on and off the cabin.
Access to headrest and center console tray tables
The patented design of PriestmanGoode offers comfort and safety for all passengers by providing access to headrests, center console tray tables, and cocktail tables that adjust to serve passengers with wheelchairs in place. The revamped system also enables Delta Air Lines to retain the design of its airplane cabins on every seat. Following the exhibition, the seat is slated to be sent for final design and validation and to be followed by testing and certification programs to begin installing the design once certified.
Rick Salanitri, President of Delta Flight Products, says that the consortium Air4All is collaborating with DFP’s production and manufacturing capabilities to explore ways to deliver equal access to comfort, safety, and dignity for all customers. ‘This patented design offers new possibilities for customers in wheelchairs to enjoy a travel experience they truly deserve,’ he adds. Daniel MacInnes, director of PriestmanGoode, states that ‘we want to see the PRM community enjoy the benefits of Air4All – hence the progress made through the new partnership with DFP is significant in bringing that closer.’
Free wheelchair mission’s gen_1 model
Designed for rugged terrain
Two decades of impact
Durable construction
Easy assembly and maintenance
