Climbing Chiba wheelchair finds its legs when needed (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Japan's resolve to come up with better wheelchairs for the disabled and aged for indoor and outdoor use has produced numerous prototypes showcased at special events. The latest debut is a robotic wheelchair that stages a kind of Transformer act, converting its wheels into legs when needed, as in climbing stairs. A group from the Chiba Institute of Technology, led by associate professor Shuro Nakajima, developed the wheelchair. The device has a four-wheel drive and five axes. The chair rolls along on its wheels, until it reaches an obstacle such as steps or a ditch. The chair meets the obstacle by using wheels as legs. Sensors run the show; the sensors help the device to assess size and distance. The robot, with sensors on its feet, moves appropriately. If the sensors are ever in error, and the wheels hit an obstacle, the wheel torque can vary as a back-up measure.