IIT Madras develops electric standing wheelchair, to be commercialised by NeoMotion

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) has developed an electric standing wheelchair ‘NeoStand’, which has been developed indigenously. The compact standing wheelchair is equipped with easy-to-use navigation for its motorised standing mechanism. The ‘NeoStand’ was launched today in the presence of IIT Madras V Kamakoti, faculty, researchers and users of these rehabilitative devices.

The wheelchair has been developed by a team led by Sujatha Srinivasan, head of TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development, IIT Madras. Srinivasan had also led the team which developed ‘Arise,’ country’s first manual standing wheelchair. The project was sponsored by Tata Elxsi under its corporate social responsibility initiative. The equipment will be commercialised by NeoMotion, an IIT Madras-incubated start-up.

The wheelchair will provide users the freedom to sit for prolonged hours and stand comfortably. It reduces the risk of secondary health complications. Its compactness ensures easy manoeuvrability through tight spaces, enhancing accessibility.

At present, users are dependent on external help and some need to use orthoses. For persons with severe disabilities who have compromised upper body strength, this is a significant challenge, and a manual standing wheelchair is inadequate.

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V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, said, “These are very important translational research works guided by faculty of IIT Madras that have great social impact.”

Highlighting the benefits of the innovation, Henry Prakash, associate medical superintendent, Christian Medical College, Vellore said, “Today as we navigate the complexities of accessibility, affordability, and societal attitudes, let us keep in mind that the advancements in this field of assistive technology is not a technological imperative, but a moral one too.”