Jalopnik: Wheelchair

Wheelchair Uses Lasers To Automatically Dock In Van

Travis Hudson — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Researchers at Lehigh University are developing a way to make it easier for wheelchair-bound individuals to dock a wheelchair in the back of a minivan. The system utilizes lasers and radio frequency technology to automatically guide a wheelchair onto the forklift-style platform that is in the rear of the van. This is similar to how the spacecraft Jules Verne docked with the International Space Station or how my Roomba robotic vacuum will automatically dock with its charging cradle.

The researchers integrated this system into a Chrysler minivan and it has proved to be successful 97 percent of the time including in difficult situations like on gravel and in the rain. [New Scientist]

Be Careful Of Wheelchair-Bound Hitchhikers When Driving Your Semi In Paw Paw

Ray Wert — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:45:00 EDT

I'll be traveling through the lovely little southwestern Michigan town of Paw Paw on Saturday, and you can bet I'll be happy I won't be driving a semi-truck. We've heard the town's home to a roving gang of wheelchair-rolling hitchhikers employing a unique brand of thumbing it. They'll just roll right out in front of semi trucks and hitch themselves a ~~push-start~~ ride strapped onto the grille. That's what a 21-year-old wheelchair-bound resident of the double baby bear hand-named town did yesterday afternoon. The man became lodged in a semi truck grille after rolling in front of a truck leaving a gas station. The truck driver, not noticing the man lodged in front of his cab, proceeded to hit the highway for about five miles before police, alerted to the scofflaw, pointed it out to the truck driver. The unharmed man was taken to the hospital for a check-up, and then we're assuming right to jail. Didn't he know hitchhiking is illegal in Michigan? Wait, what's that you say — he didn't mean to be taken for a semi-ride?!? Oh man, then that's just terrible. – Ray Wert

Local man goes for the ride of his life [Wood TV]

Related:
Best. Wheelchair. Ever. [internal]

Wheelchair Wheels: The Hungarian Kenguru

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:51:35 EDT

The Coolhunter bagged some new prey, a minicar designed for people in wheelchairs. It's the Hungarian-designed Kenguru, and we'd have sworn we'd already posted on it — but there's no record to confirm we've got more than a minor case of d j vu. The driver simply wheels up into it, locks in place, grabs the joystick and goes — no lifting, no hassles. If Robert T. Ironside had one of these, he totally would have gotten Eve Whitfield. Not even a doubt.

Hot Wheels for Wheelchair Users [The Coolhunter]

Related:
Best. Wheelchair. Ever. [internal]

Best. Wheelchair. Ever.

maustin — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:57:37 EDT

Wow. Holy Crap. What can we say about the TankChair that isn't obvious from the picture? Well, um, it's made for people that actually need a wheelchair. And it wasn't created from some Terminator-esque apocalypse where people with disabilities take over on Judgement Day. Still, we'd like to think the TankChair's been sent back from the future to save all of mankind from a more advanced, evil TankChair. On the TankChair website...

...they have videos of the TankChair in action. There's also the story of the TankChair's inventor, who was inspired when his wife couldn't enjoy nature with the rest of the family. Truly a heartwarming story. Not that it matters. We'd want a TankChair if it required a constant supply of fresh kittens to keep running.

Welcome to TankChair [TankChair.com]