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Hi-Tech Wheelchair Gives the Rascal Scooter a Run for Its Money

by Caleb Johnson on August 27, 2009 at 03:21 PM


It's sleek, has four wheels, and looks like something Batman would ride, but this vehicle isn't meant for superheroes. This next-generation wheelchair will make life easier for the elderly and disabled.

According to the AFP, the Japanese vehicle, called the Rodem, allows a rider to straddle the seat, steer with a joystick and motorcycle-style handles, and rest their knees and chest on cushions. Researchers at Veda Internation Robot Research and Development Centre in Japan, which designed the futuristic wheelchair, hope this combination will allow the disabled more independence and free movement, without the aid of nurses and caretakers.

Judging by the design, it certainly looks like Japan's aging population could slide onto the Rodem and scoot away much more easily than on a traditional motorized wheelchair. However, the designers say there are no immediate plans to sell the Rodem to the general public. Unless, maybe, there's some private investor out there... *cough* Bruce Wayne *cough*. [From: AFP/Google News]

Tags: accessibility, disabled, elderly, health, japan, medicine, top, wheelchair

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