Whill, a Japanese start-up, is launching its first mobility device in the US called Whill Type-A, the design of which incorporates feedback and suggestions from hundreds of mobility device users. The sleek looking machine allows the user to lean into the wheelchair (as one would on a bicycle) and the user need not sit in an passive manner as is the case in conventional mobility devices and is controlled through a joystick.
The device features all wheel drive and the “tires” of the wheels themselves rotate transversely, so it can move unlike any other chair. The wheels should work well on various surfaces including grass, dirt or gravel roads, and also allow for a turning radius small enough to be able to rotate in a spot, thereby providing excellent mobility and maneuverability.
WHILL Type-A provides the user with three modes of transport:
- A high-profile mode allowing the user to move in a “lean-in” position.
- A low-profile mode that is table-friendly, and allows the user to sit close to a table.
- An off-mode allows the user to relax and travel in comfort.
The user can switch between the different modes by merely sliding and folding away the front arms, and can get on and off the vehicle by folding the front arms and sliding the seat forward. The wheelchair makes use of minimalistic design and is only 23.6 inches wide and 32.5 inches long. It has a top speed of 6 mph and a range of 15 miles. This sleek looking wheelchair is sure to turn heads on sidewalks and hallways!
Product page: WHILL…
(hat tip: Techcrunch)