The Intelligent Chair wins the #MaketoCare international competition

The Good Hemp

7 December 2020

Every move counts: people more active for Health and inclusion

15 December 2020

Published by Dario Dongo on 10 December 2020

#ChairIntelligent, the idea

The #Intelligent Chair, the #SmartWheelchair, comes from the simple intuition of the writer. Which, after a life spent on two wheels of bicycles and motorcycles, has moved on to the four wheels of a wheelchair. And he was amazed by the backwardness of the project, as well as by the price cartel that characterizes the disability aids sector.

The idea of the Intelligent Chair is to offer all people with motor disabilities a personal mobility device that responds to concrete daily needs, with some innovations, at affordable prices and consistent with production costs. Thanks to a 'bottom-up' work that involves people with disabilities in every phase of design, project, test and validation.

The designers

Julius Maldacea – a close friend and founder of the Italian Parkinson Associations Committee, which in 2020 launched the WikiParky.tv teleassistance project – has participated in the Smart Chair project from the beginning, in 2016. A great expert in electric vehicles and motors with twenty years of experience, Giulio among other things, he contributed to the development of the Archimede 1.0 prototype (see photo), the electric vehicle team 'Solar Future', which took part in the tender in 2016 endurance European Solar Challenge, in Belgium. (1)

JULIUS MALDACEA

An company specialized in light mobility and patent management - has been collaborating for decades with the University of Perugia, the Polytechnic of Milan and the most qualified experts in the sectors of cycles and motorcycles. The design of the Intelligent Chair began in 2018, after an initial feasibility study conducted in 2017-2018 by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, Genoa), then under the scientific direction of Roberto Cingolani.

#SediaIntelligente, the project

The project of Smart Wheelchair integrates two modules.

1) The wheelchair manual (É-GT, Gran Turismo equality), equipped with:

- passive suspensions to absorb the roughness of the ground (e.g. steps and sidewalks, holes, cobblestones and cobblestones, pavement) that stress and cause stress to the spine,

- active suspensions, to raise the seat by 25-30 cm. For the dual purpose of overcoming the 'invisible line' below which those who are seated have difficulties in situations (e.g. offices, reception, bars, vending machines) or relationships (e.g. dialogue with standing people),

- reclining seat,

- brakes on the main wheels, to deal safely with descents and electric locomotion.

2) The front wheel with electric motor (E-TR, Égalite Trike), which in turn is characterized by:

- system of plug-in (attachment and release from the chair) quick and simple, without effort, usable even in case of mobility and reduced strength in the upper limbs,

- 20-inch wheel, able to guarantee stability and comfort,

- balance of geometries, to balance stability and manageability,

- fluid delivery, so as to be able to move even 'at walking pace' without the need for continuous couplings and travel stops.

The technology essential, the application of the standards in force in the cycling sector and an effective assistance system contribute to guaranteeing the reliability of the device and the speed of any repairs, thus solving a problem that currently recurs in this sector.

Production

Production of the Intelligent Chair is entrusted to one type B social cooperative, the Egalitech being set up, - that is to say, with the participation of at least 30% of people with disabilities - to set up in Rome. With the further objective of the job placement of disadvantaged people. 100% Made in Italy sustainable and supportive, to draw with technology of blockchain public open-source.

The looms they are built in titanium by an Italian company leader sector. The wheels of the chair will be printed in carbon fiber to obtain maximum lightness. And the search for eco-sustainable fireproof fabrics is underway, as alternatives to standard synthetic fiber coatings.

Perspectives

Breaking down the barriers cultural and architectural, theinaccessibility of public transport services and means it must rise to priority in the reconstruction of Italy, like ours Disability Pride Network urged on 3.12.20 in a open letter to this day without confirmation. # We are no longer patient!

La Smart Wheelchair is an innovative sustainable micro-mobility tool that can help those who simply have motor difficulties. And he has just as much desire to live life, with as few obstacles as possible! The award received today at #MaketoCare is dedicated to all our brothers and sisters in various disadvantages, here as in Africa where we want to return as soon as possible, after the first Disability PrideSenegal (2019). And in Israel, where other fraternal friends help the disabled in the various communities. This is just the beginning of a good story.

Donate

Donations and sponsor are essential to transform this project into an industrial reality no profit with an extraordinary social impact. Fully deductible and deductible donations can be made directly on this site, or rather on the 'Produzioni dal Basso' platform which hosts the our campaign of through crowdfunding with the patronage of Banca Etica. Please help us to help. Thank you!

Dario Dongo

Note

(1) Giulio Maldacea has previously worked on a series of social initiatives (projects for the recovery and production of low-cost electricity, solar ovens, beehives monitoring) in Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali. As responsible for the Sahara Team, in collaboration with the 'Bambini nel Deserto' association

GIULIO MALDACEA IN AFRICA (2) Notes on architectural barriers and systematically disapplied legislation in the previous article dedicated to Genoa, on https://www.egalite.org/genova-dopo-il-ponte-le-barriere-architettoniche-appello-al-sindaco-e-denuncia-allamt/