ETH employees Reto Togni and Stefan Villiger have found an ingenious and simple solution for steering a wheelchair: a movable backrest that is connected to the front wheels so that you steer with your back. This technology reduces the effort required, is easy on the shoulders, arms and hands, and you always have one hand free.
More than 50 wheelchair users have tested the backrest steering system and many are delighted with it. Reto and Stefan have secured the patent for the steering technology. Now the aim is to manufacture and sell entire wheelchairs.
You can find more information on the ETH project page and in our blog article about Reto, our wheelchair designer.
The back-controlled wheelchair leaves one hand free to make phone calls while the other drives the wheelchair forwards. Image: © Reto Togni and Stefan Villiger / ETH Zurich.
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ETH employees develop back-controlled wheelchair
ETH employees Reto Togni and Stefan Villiger have found an ingenious and simple solution for steering a wheelchair: a movable backrest that is connected to the front wheels so that you steer with your back. This technology reduces the effort required, is easy on the shoulders, arms and hands, and you always have one hand free.
More than 50 wheelchair users have tested the backrest steering system and many are delighted with it. Reto and Stefan have secured the patent for the steering technology. Now the aim is to manufacture and sell entire wheelchairs.
You can find more information on the ETH project page and in our blog article about Reto, our wheelchair designer.
The back-controlled wheelchair leaves one hand free to make phone calls while the other drives the wheelchair forwards. Image: © Reto Togni and Stefan Villiger / ETH Zurich.