TECHNOLOGY WATCH
LFC Concept
In developing countries, it’ s often difficult, if not impossible, to get anywhere in the community with a standard push-rim wheelchair. There are rarely any sidewalks. Most roads aren’ t paved, and dirt roads are usually muddy and bumpy. Hills are steep. And those who need to go to the market or other places have to travel long distances to get there. What’ s a wheelchair user to do?
The GRIT Freedom Chair( above right) is an idea born to meet the needs of wheelchair users in developing countries. The all-terrain wheelchair has easy to push levers that amplify force to make it easier to self-propel over grass, sand, and rough terrain.
The Leveraged Freedom Chair( LFC) Concept( below right) showcases what could be possible for wheelchair users in developed countries. The LFC Concept is a new vision of the originally design. The proposed LFC Concept would be a lightweight, utility wheelchair with a bent aluminum spine and custom profile. In addition to molded ports and a carbon fiber seatback frame, the LFC Concept seatback would have the feeling of an office chair created with a light-weight stretch fabric. This highperformance version will be sold to western markets once the LFC Concept is moved into production.
WHILL Model Ci
WHILL, Inc. has launched its new, ultra-portable Model Ci( above right). Like its older brothers, the Model A and Model M( below right), the Model Ci combines a sleek, fashionable design with advanced driving features such as a joystick for precise maneuverability inside and patented front omni-wheels. The Model Ci also boasts a 10 mile range from its lithium-ion battery and has a top speed of 5mph. It’ s highly versatile with power to climb hills and conquer rugged terrains yet extremely agile indoors to maneuver through tight doorways and confined areas.
The Model Ci separates itself from its siblings with 2 key features that helped it win“ Best of Innovation Awards” at CES 2018.
1. It disassembles into three components so that it can
be transported easily.
2. It’ s packed with the latest wireless technologies, including app-enabled driving for greater independence, multiple driving modes to match a driver’ s riding style and comfort zone, and a digital battery charge indictor to stem range anxiety, all enabled via Bluetooth. Using mobile broadband and GPS, the Model Ci provides predictive product maintenance information as well as remote customer support.
4 uab. edu / sci
Model Ci Model Ci( 3 parts)
Model M