free wheels

the whirlwind project is designing and freely licensing an open-source wheelchair design that was designed by and can be manufactured locally by individuals in wheelchairs. the chair has significant advantages over traditional models, most notably because it can be used to go up and down stairs, can handle rough terrain and allows a parent to safely carry their child. inventor ralph hotchkiss has made detailed instructions available in a free pdf on how to build the chair – as well as how to start a small business and furnish a shop to turn them out. the diagrams are refreshingly simple (below) and the video is worth watching for this chair’s remarkable maneuverability.

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