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Phase: Review

Low cost Stair climbing wheelchair

Our wheelchair utilizes a special suspension system that improves mobility significantly. Take wheelchair anywhere everywhere.

Photo of Manish Aryal
21 18

Written by

What problem does your idea solve?

A manual wheelchair costs about 200$ while a simple electric wheelchair costs 3000$ and all terrain wheelchair costs 12000$, so we are targeting a low cost all terrain electric wheelchair to bridge the gap.Thousands of people are bedridden are forced within the periphery of their homes because they are disabled. Their dreams to have a normal life are all shattered the moment their mobility seizes.wheelchair fail miserably when it encounters an obstacles, staircase are a complete nightmare.

Explain your idea

Our device is a four wheel drive, six wheeled wheelchair for added stability and traction. It utilizes two electric dc motors powered by two 12 volts battery pack. The idea is to use a proven suspension mechanism in the front and rear wheels that assists wheelchair navigation in difficult terrain and staircase. Our product will be fully electric and driven by a joystick and can be used by people whose only one hand is functional. It contains a safety mechanism so that it will not topple while navigating rough terrain as well as stairs.

Who benefits?

physically challenged people above 14 years whose hands are functional will easily be able to operate this wheelchair. It will enable them the freedom of mobility to utilize their skills in various sectors be independent and live a life on self respect. Once fully charged the wheelchair can be operated for 3-4 hours.

How is your idea unique?

The suspension mechanism used is one of its kind not used in any wheelchair around the world and is currently patent pending in Nepal. The six wheel system accounts for extra stability and safety. The stair climbing mechanism is fully mechanical and doesn't need sensors to do its job which makes it reliable cheaper and easier for maintenance. The wheelchair can be manufactured with the parts of electric bikes and existing wheelchairs so maintenance and spare parts will be easily available.

Tell us more about you

we are a group of five engineers, four mechanical and one electronics from Nepal. we are still in phase of building more advanced prototypes before setting up the manufacturing firm or a business. we still need a business background person on our group if this project goes as per our plans. we have invested major portion and still open to sponsors to fund our prototype. Manish Aryal is the team leader and handles the team by himself.

What are some of your unanswered questions about the idea?

The effects of braking system and its reliability while descending from stairs remains the major challenges as it becomes too complex to simulate on CAD software's.

Where will your idea be implemented?

  • Nepal

Experience in Implementation Country(ies)

  • Yes, for more than one year.

Expertise in Sector

  • I've worked in a sector related to my idea for more than a year.

Organizational Status

  • We are a registered non-profit, charity, NGO, or community-based organization.

Idea Maturity

  • Prototyping: I have done some small tests with prospective users to continue developing my idea.

21 comments

Join the conversation:

Comment
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Photo of National Federation of the Disabled Nepal
Team

Manish Aryal This is very commendable idea. I use a wheelchair myself. And if this idea actually becomes a reality, this is help lot of people like me.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

email me if you want to support our campaign and make this idea a reality
maneesaryal@gmail.com

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Photo of Ayush Dhital
Team

This is really a good project. I wish your project be a milestone to all those disabled people. All the Very Best. Cheers!

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

Thank you for your appreciation :) Cheers

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Photo of Carolina
Team

This project would be a wonderful way to resolve many mobility barriers that people needing a wheelchair face. The fact that not all places have ramps for wheelchairs limits those that use them to go freely outside. I hope to see it develop into an end product that has stability and control, that can be a safe mobility device for those that need it.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

Appreciate your words .
we certainly hope to build a solid safe product out of this.

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Photo of Fadila Lagadien
Team

Hi Manish, can you please have a look at my idea and see if you can support it and or provide some feedback that I might be able to incorporate into t to make it more feasible?

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

sure :D

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Photo of Fadila Lagadien
Team

https://challenges.openideo.com/challenge/disability-inclusion/ideas/disability-accessible-facilities-and-services/comments#!c-705bfa189ccc7f87edf89da2822702ad

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Photo of Fadila Lagadien
Team

This is a great low cost solution to a big problem. I wonder how you might export the product and still keep costs low?

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

First of all thankyou!!!
Exporting and keeping the cost low is directly linked with the respective countries government policy !!!!
if taxes and other charges are removed then certainly the price is going to be lot lot below the existing solutions .

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Photo of Fadila Lagadien
Team

Indeed it is so. I think we should put our heads together once your product is developed.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

Definitely!!!!!
it would be my pleasure if i am able to help you in anyways in near future :)

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Photo of Yuba Raj Paudel
Team

Brilliant Idea! and a low cost technology

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

Thankyou so much !!!!
yes it relatively very low cost technology compared to existing ones and since most disabled people are associated with low economy!!! We hope this can help them directly

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Photo of Sweekar Dhakal
Team

This idea can do wonders for the disabled!! The greatest barrier a disabled has to face in this world is the difficulty in mobility, and this has to be the best possible solution to overcome that barrier.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

Those words really means a lot !!!
we certainly are working on it to make the differently able people life easier and better.

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Photo of Anshu Sharma
Team

Really great initiative which I am sure will make life of disabled people easier. I wish you all the luck for future.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

thankyou so much!!!!

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Photo of Friends of Mmofra
Team

Low wheelchair access is a huge problem! The rough terrain capability caught our attention as many place lack smooth and unobstructed hard surfaces like properly constructed sidewalks.

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Photo of Manish Aryal
Team

yes , it is a huge concern and our product has this capability to improve mobility significantly if we can implement it. the other aspect is the repair and spare parts which will be easy once its manufactured locally.

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