Part Man Part Car Tip: Service Your Chair/Scooter Or Else It Can Catch Fire

Aiden Cassidy's story of his scooter serves as a reminder to powerchair/scooter users to make sure your chair is properly maintained.

The 77 year-old stroke victim from the UK was using his 6 month old scooter when he noticed that the motor was cutting out.  After shutting the scooter off and restarting, one of the batteries on the scooter had exploded and broke out into a fire.  Thankfully, Mr. Cassidy's assistant managed to assist him off before the fire consumed the entire scooter, as seen in the photo above.

Mr. Cassidy has since been given a replacement scooter by a friend.  The thing that should be taken away from this story is that any issue with your powerchair/scooter should be checked out as soon as possible and to make sure that it is properly serviced and maintained.  An image of what remains of the scooter is after the jump.

IntelliWheel AGS Provides Automatic Gearing For Manual Chairs

Engineering Grad Student, Scott Daigle, has developed a new set of manual wheelchair wheels dubbed the Intelliwheel AGS.  AGS stands for "Automatic Gearing System" which makes this one smart wheel. These wheels utilize sensors to analyze the various conditions and sorts out the best gear to be in so that the user is maximizing his pushing effort.  The best part is that this works without the user requiring any special training or change in their style: the user just pushes the wheels like a standard manual wheelchair and the wheels simply do the rest.  While designed to ease hill climbing, this system can also be used to minimize shoulder pain and strain.  Although these prototype wheels are still heavy at around 5 lbs. each, they can be of great source of relief to the 73% of manual chair users who currently developing shoulder problems due to use.

These wheels are, as previously mentioned, in the prototype phase and are currently undergoing heavy durability testing with a production prototype slated to be released around September of 2012 with consumer availability shortly after that.  Hit the jump for more images.

2011 Honda Odyssey By BraunAbility

BraunAbility has begun to release information about their Entervan conversion for the current 2011 Honda Odyssey.  The picture above is a preproduction vehicle that was shown at the 2011 Abilities Expo in Los Angeles earlier in April.  The conversion incorporates many of the usual refinements that are consistent with BraunAbility's conversions; however, there is a step for the driver and front passenger that has been integrated into the side skirts to facilitate ingress and egress.

The Honda Odyssey conversion is interesting as this particular generation minivan was made purposely shorter (in height) in order to create a sleeker shape.  While doing this was meant to increase fuel economy, this could impede interior height even with the 10" lowered floor.  The Odyssey is known to have, by minivan standards, exceptionally good handling:  how does the conversion and the necessary suspension changes affect the performance of the vehicle?  Hopefully BraunAbility's conversion of this minivan has not altered the many good characteristics of this good vehicle. 

Movie Watch: Johnny English: Reborn

Rowan Atkinson is reprising his role as bumbling spy Johnny English in the upcoming sequel "Johnny English:  Reborn".  The particular scene in the trailer that would be of particular interest is the scene where Johnny English is evading his enemies in a extremely fast powerchair by driving under a semi-truck.  Check out the trailer above and see the scene for yourself.  Enjoy!

Egle Ugintaite's Concept For Walking Cane

The Aid personal health management device provides the possibility for users who love to be an active member in their community but have difficulty in leaving their homes due to the health issues. This cane-like unit has been designed to become useful ICT device in user’s daily lives where it features services that are integrated with social infrastructure.  More information and images after the jump.