Japanese researchers debut wheelchair-replacing RODEM "universal vehicle"
By Donald Melanson 
posted Aug 27th 2009 1:07PM
posted Aug 27th 2009 1:07PM
Look out, Rascal. You may just have some new competition in the fast-moving field of slow-moving mobility -- at least if this new RODEM prototype developed by a group of research partners at Japan's Veda Center (including Tmsuk) actually hits the market. Apparently designed to be used as both a replacement for a wheelchair and as a general purpose "universal vehicle," the four-wheeled RODEM allows folks to simply lean forward slightly without the need for any back support, which the group says will let people get in and out of the vehicle more easily, and with less assistance from care-givers. Of course, no sci-fi inspired vehicle would be complete without a few bells and whistles, and it looks like the RODEM is more than capable in that department, with it packing some built-in GPS, automatic obstacle evasion control, automatic slope correction, an "autonomous navigation function," voice recognition, and some sort of vital monitoring system (all of which may or may not actually be included in the prototype) -- not to mention a top speed of 6 kilometers per hour.
[Via Physorg]
[Via Physorg]
Hey baby
Is that the "Mad Max" edition wheelchair? (Chainsaw not included)
WoW sorry for this one but if it wasn't already hard enough to get around wheel chairs in a store but this come on
I totally agree.
*gets run over by crazy walmart scooter ladies*
DX
Seems way too big to be accepted by users.
@Duke
That's what your mom said. Last night. In bed. With me. She was talking about my
My mom died 7 years ago in an accident...
that accident being....
very tragic. i hope you're getting better by now, your mum'd be pround.
ugh. proud
Is that just not a variation of a Vespa? I mean, they aren't even trying.......they just take a scooter and call it a wheel chair.
an "autonomous navigation function,"
Robot uprising in 3...2...
Call it a "personal zamboni" and it sells itself.
er... maybe power chair? (the kind that all the old people and the fat people are on these days?)
I am so going to rule my wheelchair basketball league with one of these!
I am so going to get the shit kicked out of me in my murderball league.
Holy cripple Batman!
The GPS feature is nice. An on-board weapons system would be nicer.
Captain Pike.
(It had to be said.)
BTW did you see that new Halmark Light&Sound ornament w/Captain Pike? -So cool.
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|940935|215589;221071;221110|null|P1R4SO|stores
The roadsters for wheel chairs? THANK YOU JAPAN! First in innovation. Japan will someday rule the economic and militaristic world. Their gundams will be invincible. (Yes they are actually researching into making giant robots/giant gundam like suits for their military. US has even spent several million within the last 10 years into exoskeleton armor and giant robots)
too bad their economy is stagnant and their population is shrinking from low birth rates.
I hope your being sarcastic.
They don't have military, they aren't allowed.
Girl in RODEM ; "Bitch, i might look like an idiot, but this makes me taller then you!"
Girl 2: "Bitch, i slept with your husband twice this week alone!"
That ended up just being really sad... The girl in RODEM probably can't please her husband 'cause she's disabled..
...a woman who cannot leave under her own power is a woman who I can love.
Needs Missile Launchers and/or plasma pulse rifle. Please contact me when available.
Or how 'bout the pig launcher from district 9?
@ryan
Do you keep all your women locked in cages?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/SheWolf545.jpg
Doesn't look all that bad...
Only when I do not have them literally chained to the kitchen.
"High Five!"
cant work in the U.S., fat people cant get in it their nasty assed belly's get in the way!!!!
The world gets one step closer to Professor X's real wheel chair...
actually those wheels are a Y instead of an X
sheesh!
Damn that thing is HUGE, and are those headlights I see? WTF!? The thing has no backrest! WTF! Can you imagine a paralized person on this, they would just fall on the floor! WTF! This thing is for the lazy asses in Walmart and airports that are afraid of very mild amounts of walking, this is not a wheelchair in any way. Old people would fall off and break a hip on this thing! Oh the concept is so bad.
You are exactly right. There is a reason why motorized wheelchair and scooters look the way they look today. Many disabled patients who ended up using these devices have very poor trunk control and the seat on this thing is totally unsafe for that purpose! Many of them also have neurological conditions where the use of upper extremity is limited, that is why joy sticks instead of steering wheels or bars are used. The new trend is making scooters and motorized wheelchairs foldable and easy to pack into a vehicle's trunk while keep it just the right weight so it can be stored while not tip over when riding on uneven surfaces. This device is just a personal transporter and not safe for handicapped use at all!
C6? ;)
Didn't I see these in Wall-E?
Getting closer to the 90's Proffesor X wheel chair. They should probably paint it gold and market it that way. They could have a special edition bundle pack that comes with the Wolverine claws.
no pew pew pew?
As an American, I see this as a failure. Unless of course if they were manufactured of harmful materials and chemicals in China then sold at Walmart for less than a Rascal.
Wheelchair replacing??? Look at the size of that thing. What's next? Hummer's for all??
Is that a camouflage dress?
You can crush anything with this. LOL
http://onioning.com
Throw a microwave in there and I'll buy one and put it in storage so when I do need it.
Wow and segways are supposedly bad and impractical lol, look at this fucken thing.
a Segway for cripples
:3
Looks like a horrific proof-of-concept Segway.
Did anyone else think of Professor X when they saw this?