For several months, several teams and maker users have been researching and developing how to create electric chairs with Free Hardware so that this accessory, for many vital, is something easy to acquire and not expensive as it currently happens.
The group of students called steampunk1577 has managed to create a kit with Arduino that transforms a normal wheelchair into an electric wheelchair, something quite useful for those who cannot access this type of accessory.
The group of students has created a kit that can be attached to any wheelchair and transforms it into an electric wheelchair. All for U.S. dollar 500, a more affordable price than true electric wheelchairs, although possibly more expensive than if we built it ourselves.
The motors in this kit are printed to create lighter electric wheelchairs
This kit is based on a plate Arduino UNO that controls and executes the movement orders that we give. Then, Arduino UNO Thanks to the energy of the battery, it moves the printed motors that we place in the wheelchair. These motors are printed like the rest of the Free Hardware components and devices that make up this kit can be obtained separately for those who are more handyman and want to build it themselves. Both the kit and all the information about this Arduino kit can be obtained through the Steampunk1577 official website.
One of the advantages or positive points of Free Hardware is its application in everyday or necessary objects that normally have a very high price but they can be built for a lower cost. This electric wheelchair is a good example but there are others such as a remote control for facial gestures, printed prostheses, etc ... Something that helps many people, even if we are not aware of it.
How and where you can buy. Do I have to install it myself? Can it be installed on a folding wheelchair?
I live in Orense, SPAIN.
Thank you very much