A radical new
GPS-enabled wheelchair with fat tires and four-wheel drive may soon offer disabled individuals the ability to tool
around almost any terrain while still being protected by a virtual "tether" to a remote command center. The
Superfourin chair, as it's known, is basically a modified ATV with a hybrid engine, on-board computer, and embedded
sensors to monitor both vital signs and vehicle status, and was developed by Germany's
Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB in
conjunction with Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH. Designed mostly for
deployment in fleets for group outings into Mother Nature's
thoughtlessly unpaved terrain, the Superfourin was also given high
marks for solo use from its multiple sclerosis-afflicted test driver, who was able to enjoy the Thüringer Forest alone with his family for the first time in
years.
[Via Gizmag]
posted Apr 20th 2006 1:49PM
I love the Super Four. I currently have the Permobil Trax standard seat and that chair is awesome.Sad to say they quit making the Trax.
The Super Four will be great for what I do.
It is a Grand TOY but what about the PRICE ?????
Fantastic, put a rifle that you can fire by blowing into a straw, and we're all set for hunting. Phb'b't.
Wonder if that means fat people will drive them around grocery stores.
Sorry, that wasn't PC
I meant LAZY fat people
Boy, I bet some pretty sick people could problaby think of a way to hack this and cause some horror amoung the elderly/immolbilized population.
So... which was it? Alone or with his family? Undermines the credibility of the whole story; I'm voting 'fake/photoshopped.'
Sweet Recaro-esque seat!
What happens when I crash?
I've fallen and I can't get up.
Let alone turn it back over.
It looks pretty weak compared to the one at www.tankchair.com
Whoa can you say "high center of gravity"? That thing looks like it would roll over in a stiff breeze.
Does this waterproof definition include surfing?
sorry...my posting was meant for the waterproof camera.
First the MP3, now all-terrain disabled people.
What will they think up next?
Hey sheepbat whe will talk to you again when you are also 28 y in a wheelchair .
#6
Yeah, i'd rather have the tank chair.
www.tankchair.com
Great! Now the disabled can help tear up the countryside. Big whoop.
What kind of self centered person are you. My father is in a wheel chair and he does less damage than you and your horses or 4 wheelers that you use. So I guess that what you are saying is that if you were put in a chair that you wouldn't hunt anymore. My A** you wouldn't. They aren't stopped just slowed down. So take your comment and stick where the sun don't shine.
As a disabled person, this thing sounds sweet from the standpoint of one more barrier removed for folks like me. As an environmentalist, I have to agree with tundraboy. Enough damage is being done to the environment as it is.
Secondly, the center of gravity is way too high. You'd practically need a Hoyer lift to get into the darn thing. Nice idea, bad execution.
When I see this kind of technology then I feel very happy to see the positive side of technology. Of course, the company has made it to make some profit but really we need more of these.
This was demo'd at CeBIT this year in the futurparc. Demo'd with a video, not actual use :( The chair was pretty slick look though.
The system is even designed to enable individual drivers to monitor an entire fleet of wheelchairs.
It looks like the Superfourin will get people with disabilities (not the disabled, we are people! Get it? ) where they couldn't go before. Sounds good to me.
The comments about a hight centre of grqvity are likely bogus. That is easily determined with a tilt table. THe weight of the rider is likely not that much relative to the machine.
Bob, Canada
I wrote to the tankchair's designer, and he's not making them anymore, but is working on an improved version that he hopes to have out soon. That said, this vehicle looks snazzy and all, but it looks to be a stone bitch to transfer into/out of without something like a Hoyer lift.
I miss the outdoors very much and would love to be able to go four-wheeling again. I'm just not sure about this beast's practicality for paraplegics.
Looks good... where can I buy one? I need an attendant operated version as my wife has both motor and cognitive impairments (runs into... well... everything). 2-up four wheelers are banned in most places except National Forests and BLM land and the tankchair appears to also be a terror to both the environment and any others on a trail. Just how high off the deck is the CG of this puppy? With all the critical comments someone out there must know...??? Been to Fraunhofer Institute in Aachen... pretty thorough bunch of engineers.
George N.
Boeing (retired)
I hope if it is marketed the hybrid operation (engine running) is propane fired... if not for the operator then for any who may be sharing a trail with it. I've been around small engines and believe propane to be much less noxious/obnoxious.
George N.