After 4 years of self-research, Mr. Võ Đình Minh (49 years old, residing in Group 24, Area 4, Lê Hồng Phong Ward, Quy Nhơn City, Bình Định) – who has been paralyzed since childhood with an 81% disability rate – has successfully created a wheelchair capable of climbing stairs.
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| Mr. Võ Đình Minh (standing) and his self-designed stair-climbing wheelchair (Photo: TTO) |
The basic components of this special wheelchair include: 1 electric motor (connected to 3 12V batteries in parallel), 14 sprocket and chain sets, 2 gear sets, 2 rear wheels (with solid rubber tires), and 4 front wheels (with inflatable tires).
When the electric motor is activated, the rotational force transmits motion to the axles through the sprockets; the 4 front wheels rotate 2 times, while the 2 rear wheels rotate once when ascending (or descending) one step of stairs.
Currently, the prototype wheelchair (weighing about 50 kg) created by Mr. Minh can carry a person with disabilities weighing between 30-40 kg.
According to the owner of this unique wheelchair, despite operating on complex terrain, the user remains very safe and in a balanced position thanks to the hand-operated disc brake and appropriately designed seating. Mr. Minh is currently completing the necessary procedures to register the patent and widely promote this multifunctional wheelchair.
It is worth noting that this is the first type of wheelchair of its kind to appear in Vietnam. Mr. Minh is also known for having previously invented a reverse gear attached to motorcycles for people with disabilities.
