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Advanced wheelchair - climbs stairs

Y

Yikes

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 2, 2009
Messages
4,120
Location
Southern California
Even though this is a code forum - not a technology forum - I think you'll find this fascinating.


Our codes are based on old-technology wheelchairs and scooters with large turning radii, fixed height, etc., resulting in larger building footprints. But the day may come when widespread adoption of newer/better wheelchair technology enables us to rethink standards. It may help people in historic or hilly cities that can't be easily modified to current standards, or in parts of the world with limited infrastructure resources where it may be more viable to provide a high-tech chairs than to change the built environment.

Meanwhile, enjoy this real-world (Utah) test drive of a wheelchair currently in production in Switzerland.
 
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Looks promising. Might not work well on carpeted stairs, slippery stairs, unusual geometry stairs and stairs with a minimum intermediate landing.

There has been a few other stair climbing wheel chairs that I've seen. I have always advocated for eliminating much of the ADA as it relates to wheel chairs and putting the effort and money in technology similar to this. The resources expended with our current system could develop exciting advances and provide the hardware to mobility impared people for free....for a lot less than is spent now. The benefit of making the entire environment nearly accessible instead of only a small portion tells me that it makes too much sense to happen.
 
The problem with this in any of the other advanced technologies for wheelchairs is the acceptance to pay for them by the insurance companies! There was a very promising technology about 10 years ago they had gyros very much like the Segway did a quick climb stairs etc. but none of the insurance companies nor Medicare would pay for them. It's even hard in many cases to get insurance to pay for a conventional wheelchair which cost in excess of $20,000 in most cases! They certainly are not going to pay something like this for a long time!

Actually, I believe that it would cause more for insurance to pay for we are chairs like this for all wheelchair users and it does for builders to build new buildings to the accessibility codes. If you are building a new building complying with the codes is really not more expensive than not complying with them.
 
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