Assistive Devices... Segway Wheelchair and other devices.

Well, i can certainly help answer a few questions...

1. using a Seqway has a learning curve to it, just like anything else. I've had fun with one before, but wouldn't even begin to call myself an expert. I have, however, been able to see Dean Kamen and Woody Flowers (professor at MIT) riding around on one in Atlanta, and they certainly seemed to be able to do just about anything they wanted with it. As for recharging times... I can't say for certain, but overnight should be more than enough. I know there's a place in Minneapolis here that offers tours of the city on Segways - so they charge them every night to use the next day.

2. Obviously, there are huge risks when talking about modifications like these. You could void the warranty, risk personal injury if something breaks during use, make the device inoperable when you attempt to modify it, etc. With those disclaimers, i would say that adding a chair to it wouldn't be terribly expensive - most of the cost would probably come from the chair itself (how comfortable do you want it to be?). For someone who knows what he's doing, securely attaching it to the Segway shouldn't require too many parts or too much money - a few hundred bucks, maybe?

3. Evenly balancing things over the wheels of the Segway is definitely a good idea, but i doubt you have to be exact. Since it works by leaning forward or back, you have to balance it in that direction - side to side wouldn't be as important, but unbalanced could lead to tipping problems. As for loading it into the Prius, a ramp like the guy has in this video would work just fine, and be pretty easy to make and use: Segway as electric wheelchair! Yes, sir!


All that being said, if you aren't supremely confident about your ability to make the desired modifications, i would look for some other solution. I haven't looked lately, but i know one company, Invacare, that makes some pretty nice products (we toured their manufacturing facilities as part of my masters program).

I know this post probably wasn't too helpful, but i can't caution strongly enough about the risks of making modifications like this yourself...

 

I am sorry to hear of the physical difficulties of your lady. I would only ask, in what way would a Segway-powered chair be more acceptable to her than a conventional (and possibly much cheaper) motorized chair? It sounds to me as though what she needs is your emotional support in coming to grips with her needs in her new situation.

I have never used a Segway, but since it is designed to have the full weight of the rider upon the platform, I wonder how well it would work towing a chair.

If she needs to travel longish distances, or has very little arm strength, a motorized chair might be needed. But if she has reasonable strength and does not need, for example, to drive the chair to the store, and her objection is to the motor rather than the chair itself, a non-motorized chair might work for her.

Whatever you and she decide, good luck to you both.

 

I think that Daniel hit the nail squarely on the head with respect to the support issue. I've been a caregiver and know all too well the desire to try and accommodate sometimes-difficult needs. However, I also know that safety trumps all other considerations.

Remember, your lady's disdain for "traditional" assistive devices may have nothing to do with an opinion about the device itself. That puts you in the position of trying to help her come to grips with her changing circumstance. Both from the perspective of finding a solution that she finds acceptable and from the perspective of getting her to use the solution once you've found it.

While I don't have personal experience with the Segway, I think your approach of looking for alternative solutions is good you just need some refinement. If you have a physical therapist or similar health provider you might want to bounce some ideas off of them. From my own experience and from what I understand, resistance to mobility assistance is fairly common.

 

deleted by poster.

 

Segseat LLC

Definitely a great mod for what you want to do... it looks like it simply clamps onto the control post and provides a bicycle seat for you to sit on. Without knowing specifics, its hard to tell if the seat will suit your purpose or not (do you want a back rest? a seat with a wider, more cushioned bottom?) It's great to see someone coming in here from an authorized retailer to help you... does make me wonder who here tipped this guy off, though

My question (a little selfish, i know) is how do these things handle in the snow?

 

I own a segway i2 and love it----
easy to learn,( i taught myself) zero upkeep, and zero cost after purchase. I used mine all around town for errands and just enjoyment. I have been overwhelm by questions from the elderly (i'm a 56 year old whippersnapper in their eyes) and individuals with movement difficulties when out and about on it.
the i2 can be kept on the turtle mode---5mph maximum speed---and allows greater mobility in small spaces as compared to an electric wheelchair or scooter. take a look and try one out at a dealer---if you can stand up you can use one....

one last thing---watch out for bicyclists on prius chat they've been vicious against segways on me....which is why i was reluctant to post on your question.
regards
Froley

 

I'm a cyclist on PriusChat, and I probably wouldn't be vicious even if you did deserve it. Who's been giving you grief and why?

 

Hey hyo,
well i asked on the chat once if there were any other i2 owners----that i felt that the prius and the segway were an excellent combination of technology in action to free us of gasoline....that i use my prius to commute and I use the seg to be completely free of gasoline on the weekends---
I pretty much got hammered bad by PC cyclists---that the segway somehow was the ultimate evil versus bicycles as the representatives of heaven----it was very weird---
regards
Froley