Wheelchair Climbs Steps Like a Tank
From: Medical Design Technology - 06/16/2015

The prototype Scalevo wheelchair moves by using rubber treads that show
military influence, moving very much like the treads on a tank. To climb, the
user approaches and faces away from the stairs. The treads then extend,
inclining the chair at a precise angle, and it is then able to roll up the
steps with a surprising amount of smoothness. The chair also contains
headlights and taillights, and two extra sets of auxiliary wheels extend on
the last step to make the switch back to flat ground fluid. Using the Segway
as a guide, sudents from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the
Zurich University of the Arts are working to further develop the chair. The
team hopes for it to be fully developed by the next Cybathlon, a race for
those with assisting robotics.

Read the article and view a video (2:54) at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/videos/2015/06/wheelchair-climbs-steps-tank

Links:
Scalevo
http://scalevo.ch

Cybathlon
http://www.cybathlon.ethz.ch/