IIT Madras develops customisable 'Electric Standing Wheelchair'

For the majority of wheelchair users across the globe, the ability to stand is far-fetched.

IIT Madras, the Indian Institute of Technology, has developed an indigenous electric standing wheelchair called 'NeoStand,' claimed to be India's most customizable wheelchair for the benefit of wheelchair users.

The wheelchair was launched on March 20 at the campus in the presence of Professor V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, faculty, researchers, dignitaries, supporters of this project, and users of these rehabilitative devices. The NeoStand is a compact standing wheelchair equipped with navigation for its motorized standing mechanism. Users can easily switch from sitting to standing at the touch of a button, the institute said in a statement.

The project development was led by Professor Sujatha Srinivasan, Head, TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), IIT Madras, who also led the development of ‘Arise,’ India’s first manual standing wheelchair, and NeoBolt, the country’s first motorised add-on for wheelchairs. This device has been commercialised and is being launched through NeoMotion, an IIT Madras-incubated startup.

NeoStand's compactness ensures easy manoeuvrability through tight spaces, enhancing accessibility. The transition between sitting and standing, with an option to pause midway, underscores its innovative approach to improving users’ quality of life and social participation, the statement added.

Tata Elxsi sponsored the journey of NeoStand under its corporate social responsibility initiative. The development and design were spearheaded by the TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras and NeoMotion, which took the lead in bringing this product to the marketplace.