Intelligent Chair, collaboration with Regis Motors and Mecaprom

On 19.6.22 Égalité started an official collaboration with Regis Motors and Mecaprom, in Biella, for the final development of the industrial project no profit of the Intelligent Chair, a sustainable micro-mobility tool aimed at people with disabilities and walking difficulties. (1)

The Intelligent Chair by Égalité

Égalité developed the #SediaIntelligente 'project (#SmartWheelchair) thanks to the initial contribution of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) of Genoa, then directed by the now Minister for Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani. With the aim of promoting the autonomy of people with disabilities - or those who have difficulty walking - through a versatile and effective device, at affordable costs. To be produced in a strictly logic no profit, through it spin off egalitech.

The Intelligent Chair, video (En)

The Smart Wheelchair, video (En)

The 'Smart Chair' It's composed by:

- a wheelchair with manual push - with passive suspension (to absorb road bumps) and active (to raise the seat and reduce the difference in height with those who are in an upright position), brakes on the rear wheels and reclining seat,

- a front wheel with electric motor to hook and unhook easily, even with an electric control. To transform the manual wheelchair into a reliable and safe electric tricycle (trike), also intended for driving on the road. (2)

Mecaprom and Regis Motors

Mecaprom Srl e Regis Motors Srl are two of the Regis group companies that operate, respectively, in the design and production of electric vehicles and their parts (mechatronics). At the beginning of 2020, the Regis group launched production in Biella of Epic0, a pickup electric (also configured as a van, ATP for refrigerated transport, MSW for waste collection), now distributed in various European countries.

Égalité - Regis, the new collaboration

After a few months of consultations between Fabrizio and Cristiano Regis, their R&D group and Égalité, on 9.6.22 the collaboration aimed at optimizing the 'Intelligent Chair' project and defining the industrial plan officially began. The exceptional skills of the Regis group will allow, among other things, to integrate the project with assistive technologies that will facilitate its accessibility to the most disadvantaged people.

The contribution continuation of a group of people with various types of disabilities will make it possible to maintain primary attention to their concrete needs, taking into account the concrete experiences and daily habits of each, in a logic of simplification and reduction of the efforts necessary to move inside and outside the home. Also taken into account the needs of loading and unloading on
cars and public transport vehicles.

Summer 2022

The summer months will allow the Regis - Égalité inclusive team to lead the project 'Smart Wheelchair'to definition and update the business plan which aims, from the beginning, to start a pilot production in Mecaprom. Upon completion of the necessary certifications, it will thus be possible to start the first supplies with a view to covering costs.

Any donation addressed to Égalité Onlus - fully deductible and deductible, through the link https://www.egalite.org/donate/- will be welcome to shorten the time for the implementation of the Intelligent Chair. With the aim of being able to make available as soon as possible - in Italy and Senegal above all - manual wheelchairs with easily plug-in electric motors as cheap as possible, at prices close to production costs.

Perspectives

The broader perspective, following the launch of the Intelligent Chair, is to develop from the bottom - that is, starting from the needs of vulnerable population groups (including people with neurological and sensory disabilities, as well as the elderly) - various assistive technologies for mobility and daily life. Thanks to partnerships with the research and development department of an industrial group with a solid, successful forty-year experience.

Under a lucky star ...

Just in Biella it was designed by Piaggio in 1945 scooter 'MP5 Donald Duck', the progenitor of the Vespa. (4) Under a lucky star, let's work on Donald Duck for those who don't walk!

Dario Dongo