Stair-climbing wheelchair may end need for ramps
A team of engineers and designers from ETH Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts designed the Scalevo, a stair-climbing wheelchair that will eliminate the need for ramps or second-person assistance.
Moving on the ground is accomplished with a Segway-like system by balancing on the two main wheels. The stairs are climbed using two rubber tracks mounted on the bottom of the chair. On the ground, the Scalevo can travel about 10 km/h and on the stairs at 1 step/s.
The Scalevo is not yet for sale, but the developers are considering launching a Kickstarter campaign to make it available. In the meantime, they plan to compete in the international Cybathlon Challenge, a race for people with disabilities using advanced assistive devices including robotic technologies, in October 2016
Category: Features, Technology & Devices
