Related Sections: Medical Robots Vehicles
Robotics group unveils next-gen wheelchair called the Rodem
A group of Japanese researchers from the Veda International Robot Research and Development Centre have unveiled a vehicle they hope will become the next generation wheelchair for the country's rapidly aging population.
Dubbed the Rodem, the vehicle is designed to allow users to easily slide off and onto its seat, thus making it easier for the elderly and injured to move around without the aid of a nurse. No commercial release date or price has been announced, but the group, which includes robot maker Tmsuk Co., plans to upgrade the prototype with a more robotically enhanced version in the future.
Via Physorg
By brenton8090 at 6:25 AM ON 08/27/09
Go, Professor Xavier, go!
By roffe at 6:43 AM ON 08/27/09
next generation wheelchairs should at least be able to easily climb stairs
By ratty at 6:58 AM ON 08/27/09
Exactly, Dean Kamen’s IBOT Wheelchair should be what we go towards. A great use of his technology instead of the silly Segway.
By Aquain at 9:43 AM ON 08/27/09
1) Does not look comfortable.
2) How do you "slide" into that thing?
3) How expensive is that thing?
4) Why does a next gen wheelchair have to be so bulky?
By zintradi at 10:38 AM ON 08/27/09
how is this better than a hoverround?
By hackyman at 10:43 AM ON 08/27/09
I work in a nursing home and i can tell you that this wouldn't work there. The only thing that this would be good for is that if you could park a wheel chair inside it and put a license plate on it
By PixelGalileo at 11:02 AM ON 08/27/09
If I were Cpt. Christopher Pike. . . I would want one. . .lol
By Travis at 2:56 PM ON 08/27/09
There is a long history of robotic walkers to assist the elderly. In fact, there is a good overview of a number of competing technologies (from passive electrorheological dampeners to full mobile manipulators) on Hizook.com -- http://www.hizook.com/blog/2009/08/10/robotic-walkers-assist-elderly
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Travis:
There is a long history of robotic walkers to assist the elderly. In fact, there is a good overview of a number of...More »