Wheelchair for the developing world: cheap, rugged and easy to maintain

Cory Doctorow 6:37 am Mon Feb 7, 2011

Core77's case-study of the MIT Mobility Lab's "Leveraged Freedom Chair" is a fascinating look at the difficulties presented by designing a sustainable wheelchair for use by disabled people in the developing world. The final product can be sold for $100 — a 90 percent reduction off traditional wheelchairs — and uses a lever-driven propulsion system that works better over rough terrain. It uses bicycle parts to keep costs down and simplify maintenance.

Case Study: Leveraged Freedom Chair, by Amos Winter and Jake Childs

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