The Smart-Drive MX2 is
an electric drive unit designed to attach to an ordinary wheelchair and give a
much needed boost whenever it’s needed.
Even though fully-electric wheelchairs can do amazing
things, like climb stairs, they are still too large and cumbersome for an
average wheelchair user. The SmartDrive provides a versatile alternative, its
electric drive designed to attach to an ordinary wheelchair and give a boost up
hills, over difficult surfaces or whenever it’s needed.
The MX2, which received FDA approval in August, is lighter,
simple version of the original model, the MX1.
It features push to go and tap to stop functionality, so
when attached to a chair it automatically engage when going forward and stops
when the break is tapped. In this way when the users wish to go slowly, they
push their wheels slowly, and when fast, they push their wheels fast. The
SmartDrive maintains the speed of the chair based on last speed set. The chairs
push rims are used to turn while being pushed along by unit, similar to the way
they would be used to turn while going downhill.
Weighing in at about 5.7 kg, the unit has also Bluetooth LE
Drive Control to allow access from smartphone for things like fitness apps.
Power is produced from a 250W brushless DC motor combined
with LiFePO4 36 V, 2.4Ah battery, for a claimed 19km average range. It also has
anti-rollback feature, so that if you stop midway up a hill, you cannot
rollback down.
According to its creators, the SmartDrive MX2 is easy to
install and compatible with most rigid and folding chair wheelchair styles, and
it doesn’t interfere with things like spinning on the spot, popping a wheelie,
or launching of curbs. It will go for about US$6000.
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