Wheelchair of the future, the ballbot (4K) (EMMY nominated)

The ballbot wheelchair may be the future of mobility assistance. Researchers from across the University of Illinois campus have created a Star Wars-inspired robotic wheelchair that uses a single, rolling ball to provide a handsfree, intuitive, and flexible device for users.
To learn more about this project, visit
mechse.illinois.edu/news/54099
healtheng.illinois.edu/news/h...
This video was nominated for a 2023 regional Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

[@stevedolesch9241]

Utterly genius!

[@stevedolesch9241]

What touched me is Elizabeth saying 'seeing Adam walking with his wife.'

[@alyssastevenson9879]

How fantastic! Love the vision and drive behind this. I hope this is able to impact many lives in a positive way!!

[@gloriadulan-wilson1076]

What an awesome concept - but can it also climb stairs, and have a stand up feature to increase blood flow and equilibrium of the client?

[@shawnaburns5158]

Pretty cool ❤wish id had one of these 7 yrars ago when i broke my ankle,,just wanted to suggest to put reflective lights on this because i had to go back n forth to the store at night in my old town on the highway went through town it was scary i had to use my cell phone light to wave so rhe drivers saw me ,,just wanted to suggest that led lights on front back and sides maybe

[@briankay3380]

This is the best thing since sliced bread, “build it and they will come” surly a commercial operator would jump at the chance to produce this.

[@CaraDayTellMeYourStory]

THIS is what can be accomplished when we work together collaboratively!

[@elfevazquez4435]

I like once nice chair

[@evdrivertk]

This is amazing! I wonder how much of the hardware and control software is open-source. I could see many people covering a bowling ball with plastic patches and making their own contraptions.

[@kostasmanikis]

Looking forward to be available and use one! Great work!

[@adaptdefy]

Great work! Keep going!

[@sunlight8299]

Looks great! Its really good to see not only a review from a person who uses a wheelchair in their everyday life but they were the instigator of this tech! 😊
When will the new chair be available to buy/use?

[@ruhan8876]

how does he control it?

[@CaraDayTellMeYourStory]

Like a Segway there are sensors that respond to his desired movement.

[@donnakb30]

I’ve had a idea for something like this for a while..

[@ace90210ace]

"Chat Replay is disabled for this Premiere." maybe it needs the chair too 😂
on serious note, great idea and id love to try one but for me theres two deal breakers that would make it impossible to use regularly (not the chairs fault) and two possible issue that wasnt mentioned id want to know more about.
The deal breakers for me are:
- my spasms are too severe and unpredictable for any chair that uses my balance (i also have very limited balance ability anyway)
- i dont have the car and equiptment needed for electric chairs so i couldnt use it or take it anywhere (at least not without someone able bodied picking it up and getting it in my estate boot.
the two possible issues are:
- how does it handle slopes and hills
- how does it handle steps, from looks of it i imagine very small steps (an inch) are fine but more than that and your abit stuck

[@madmick32]

Its called an electric wheelchair

[@chrissawyer49]

How would transfers work?

[@nicolaevans2020]

Make the back rest a little taller lol hurt my back watching this

[@drsuemdjd]

Please allow me to be a tester for you. Is there a way to do this?

[@sunlight8299]

Contact the university