Wheelchair of the future takes on the scooter

This next-gen electric wheelchair operates for about four hours per charge.

(Credit: Veda International Robot R&D Center)

Sometimes function can successfully follow form. That may be the case for Japan's Veda International Robot R&D Center, whose electric wheelchair for the immobile and elderly might be giving scooters and electric cars a little competition in the looks department.

The "universal vehicle" Rodem (model number M1-1) operates for about four hours per charge. My favorite feature, though, is the accelerator (of course, in electric vehicles, there are no "ignitions" or "gas pedals"), which a very smart person decided should come in the form of a joystick, thereby titillating the gamers of younger generations. (I also enjoy picturing my 91-year-old grandmother navigating by joystick.)

Of course, the "high" speed of the Rodem M1-1 is 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) per hour, so when it comes to giving electric cars and scooters a run for their money, well, this is more likely to be a toy for wealthy mall rats (they should hire Paris Hilton) than anyone aiming to look cute on the street.

So beyond being electric, what makes this next-generation wheelchair, well, next-gen? Ergonomics. Because riders sit in a more upward position, taking a seat from behind and relaxing forward, it is both easier to mount and friendlier on the lower back--not to mention on caregivers the world over:

When a wheelchair is used, an elderly or disabled person has to go through seven processes, sitting up on the bed, leaning forward, leaving the bed, turning his or her back to the wheelchair, sitting on the seat, sitting up on the seat and moving backward...It is possible to ride on the Rodem through three processes, which are sitting up on the bed, leaning forward and leaving the bed, reducing the burden on caregivers.

Veda International plans to select a partner company to mass-produce these for an autumn 2009 release at about 500,000 to 700,000 yen, or $5,300 to $7,500--a pop.

[IanBro]

Wow... Soon the future will involve more lazy peoples?

[redmarine]

You seriously missed the point... This viecle was developed in Japan for Japan. Japan is known for their longlivity so their elders will be required to have better tools to move about.

[lwready]

Having survived paralytic polio and working productively for forty three years I do not consider myself "lazy peoples". Hopefully you will live a life free from pain and fully ambulatory so that you can continue to write without thinking.

[censorshipblows]

Well it's already "involving" more stupid people. I mean , look at you and your post , for example.

[kojacked]

There are always a few bad apples in the bunch. I was in Home Depot the other night and this chunky woman in her mid forties was yelling at her husband that the electric cart she was driving was dead. He road over in his electric cart, got off (easily) and let her have his (which she of course easily got on). Later I saw them walking (with ease) in the parking lot and loading up their vehicle with heavy wood. I guess they'd both rather be lazy than leave the store provided electric carts for those who truely need them.

Japan still has honor and I'm glad to hear their hard working elderly will have better tools to help them. Here in the US people get sedintary, eat too much, get obese, ruin their bodies, and then get handicap placards for their cars because their can't make it from the parking lot to the grocery store without dying. The best part about it is we as tax payers get to foot the bill for other people's laziness. I'm not saying that's true of most people you see parked in handicapped parking spots but more and more I'm seeing younger, obese people occupy these parking places. When you see behavior like I did in Home Depot it's obvious this is a growing problem in the US.

[dochilda]

As an aging adult this looks good. I hope I never have to use it. Where is the light bulb? I hope if I ever do need it I'll still go out at night. The first comment doesn't realize that some people have legitimate aging. Some day it will happen to you, too. Sorry.

[sartor1]

It seems to have a much larger foot print than a regular wheel chair. Does that aspect get outweighed by it's convenience (electric)/looks?

[gary85739]

Listing specs would have been helpful. How wide/long,etc.

WE will ALL need similar gadgets IF we're lucky enough to live that long...

[Demolition]

According to an article that I read on Science Links Japan (http://sciencelinks.jp/), the Rodem scooter has a footprint of 48" x 27". As a comparison, my friend's electric wheelchair has a footprint of 40" x 26".

So, this thing isn't as big as the photos make it look.

[sanenazok]

Looks like it has a pretty bad turning radius. How does one get it through a hallway and side door?

[EvanSei]

this looks great for the elderly and immobilized, looks pretty cool to, only thing is that it looks like it is wider than the average doorway or hallway and it is very long so it must need a large amount of room to turn around, I just don't think this would be usable inside the average home

[lwready]

The company web site has an English Language News Release with the following info:

Turning radius 850mm
Bike lamp, Winkers (probably turn signals), and Rear Reflector

[bluemist9999]

Could someone use the Segway technology to make a more upright wheelchair?

[lwready]

The developer of the Segway actually made a wheelchair first. It was called the iBot and marketed by Johnson and Johnson. While it was a serious improvement over current technology they were not able to secure adequate insurance reimbursement for it and a few months back withdrew it from the market. It had four wheel drive, could stand on two wheels and climb stairs. Super technology but too expensive for the market.

[drormata]

A real breakthrough would be one based on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww
Wouldn't be a wheelchair though.

[bob1xxxx]

Honestly this is a shinning example why other than cars and personal electronics (ie tvs, gaming consules, small household applacnces ) why japanes industry is stagnate . This is total impractal for a moblity scooter, other than a public road how the hell are you going to get any where with this ? It a complete loser in a house or most public bulidings? Moronic design. Look for this and other wonder turds a Japan Fail.com LOL!!!!!!

[shusseina2]

I have to agree with this rather harsh assessment.

[Renegade Knight]

Most innovation fails. However with no innovation you get nowhere at all. Not even the few that do succede. So while you think this is just another fail, I see a fail from an innovative country who will ultimatly prevail. Their car industry kicked our car industrys butt. Not bad for Japan Fail.com.

[sparrowhyperion]

I had an aneurysm a few years back which left me disabled. One of the problems stemming from it is the inability to walk for more than a minute or two without severe pain. I now use a power chair. It may not be as pretty as this one, but it is a whole lot more practical. This thing looks unsafe. The small wheel in the back doesn't look right to keep the unit in balance. My chair also has a joystick, as do most power wheelchairs. My chair will go up to 5Mph, and has a range of 17 miles on a single charge. My chair can handle up to 450lbs. I doubt this one could handle much over 200lbs. I suppose as a peice of moving artwork, it is kind of interesting, but as a practical mobility aid... I'll stick with what works.

[rterry47]

It has 4 wheels. Here's a picture from the rear: http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2009/8/rodem.jpg Nothing is suitable for every application.

[majesticknights]

ok i work in mobility, if you actually read up on this thing, you will realise it is far more practical than a mobility scooter with its turnig circle more than half, 850mm u could almost turn around in a door way, ok its not quite as nimble as a power chair but you need to be pretty serverly injured to require a power chair, or your still in rehab. also look at the price, this thing is cheap, a base model power chair is almost twice the proprosed price and its only slightly dearer than a custom built titanium manual chair, all in all it looks like its not to bad of a product and most of the negatives come from people what have only taken the time to read the first 2 posts and really are basing their assesments on a photo rather than the machines specifications

[Renegade Knight]

Call it a prototype, improve it as you learn lessons and maybe it's a great project.

[LadySeraphina]

In order for a mouse trap to succeed in the market it needs to actually be a better mouse trap. I find it hard to see this thing as an improvement on anything.

- Riding forward means all your weight will end up on your lower legs. Extended periods sitting this way cause lower leg pain and swelling.

- There is no back support whatsoever. A common complaint among seniors is back pain, requiring more support.

- 2mph and 4 hr range for $5000+? Are you serious? A $1000 ECV today gives you 6mph with an all day 20 mile range, and a much more comfortable seat.

The joystick may be fancy for the mobility-uninitiated, but those of us who have used such products and know the industry know that is a very common control. If anything this looks like a motorcycle and scooter gave birth to a monster.

[daveat]

ohh boy, well it least it has some style, I am sure they will team up with permobile, but they all just miss the point. It is grotesquely slow, and 4hr's?? I have customers that travel miles in their chair (in the summer) How about something a little more progressive for a design budget that prob, went into the mil.