WHILL Model C2 Personal Mobility

It all began with a single wheelchair user's voice: "I've given up on even going to the grocery store just two blocks away." The user had given up on simple tasks like going to the local grocery store because he was self-conscious and had difficulty navigating obstacles: Even a small bump on the road represented a major headache.

Conventional powered wheelchairs position the user to sit in a passive posture. With its unique form, WHILL gets the user to be in a more active position. The intent is to fundamentally change the attitude of the user and perception of surrounding people through an active design language. Wheelchairs usually have about an inch of ground clearance due to its small front casters, making it difficult to maneuver curbs at store entrances and sidewalks. WHILL incorporates large omni-wheels to navigate across obstacles while maintaining a tight turning radius. Rollers on the omni-wheels allow it to glide sideways for increased maneuverability.

With the world's population over the age of 60 drastically increasing over the next several decades, 900 million people worldwide in 2017, and expected to more than double to 2.1 billion people by 2050. There is a huge opportunity and need to address current and future mobility challenges.

It can be dissembled for easy transportation in the trunk of a car. It also makes compact storage. WHILL has a companion app to pair with a smartphone. The app allows people to view battery status and range, lock the device, and drive it remotely. It can also adjust the speed setting.