Series 5: Bringing disruptive innovation to the powered wheelchair market

COVID-19大流行意味着轮椅使用者被限制在家中，外出和走动时的自由受到严重限制。大约30%的用户依靠电动轮椅四处走动，即使在家里。在COVID-19之前，许多轮椅使用者已经面临获得椅子的延迟，70%的人等待超过3个月。自疫情爆发以来，由于制造业关闭和社交距离工作惯例限制了供应，这一情况变得更加严重。使用者最担心的一些问题是轮椅故障和电池寿命短，这将导致他们陷入困境或孤立。轮椅的设计和技术在25年左右的时间里一直保持不变，提供不可靠的椅子，需要频繁的维修和零件更换，并且不环保。FreedomOneLife为电动轮椅市场带来了根本性的变化。在过去的5年里，我们一直在开发一种颠覆性的创新解决方案，以提高性能、可靠性、效率和美观性。我们的技术将增加用户的信心，并扩展电动椅性能和可靠性的界限。我们的系列5设计采用了最新的可持续创新组件，用于电池、电机和控制单元，以提高效率，延长电池寿命，并将其与坚固的现代设计相结合。我们的电动椅可以防止用户在未来出现故障，长时间等待零件，并让他们相信在任何未来的流行病情况下，他们的移动性都将得到保护。我们的椅子也更容易和更容易制造，可以为行业带来创新，即使在社交距离较远的条件下也能确保生产。为了进入我们的目标市场，我们需要获得1类医疗器械认证。当COVID-19封锁来袭时，我们正在开始测试。该项目将进行复杂的电气和机械测试，以创建医疗器械分类所需的技术文件。我们将与供应链合作伙伴合作，建立一个具有成本效益的制造基地，向欧洲各地等待下订单的分销商供应椅子。

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant wheelchair users being confined to their homes and having freedom severely restricted when out and about. Around 30% of users rely on powered wheelchairs to get around, even in the home. Before COVID-19 many wheelchair users already faced delays in obtaining their chair with 70% waiting more than 3 months. Since the pandemic, this situation has become significantly worse as supply has been limited through manufacturing closures and socially distanced working practices.Some of the biggest concerns of users are around wheelchair break down and short battery life that would cause them to become stranded or isolated. Wheelchair design and technology has remained unchanged for around 25 years, supplying chairs which are unreliable, require frequent servicing and parts replacement and which are not environmentally friendly.FreedomOneLife delivers radical change to the powered wheelchair market. We have spent the past 5 years developing a disruptive and innovative solution to improve performance, reliability, efficiency and aesthetics. Our technology will increase user confidence and stretch the boundaries of powerchair performance and reliability. Our Series 5 design uses the latest sustainable innovative components for batteries, motors and control units, for improved efficiency, extended battery life and combines this with a robust, modern design.Our powerchairs could future proof users against breakdowns, long waits for parts and bring confidence that their mobility will be preserved in any future pandemic scenario. Our chairs are also easier and swifter to manufacture and could bring innovation to the industry ensuring production even during socially distanced conditions.In order to access our target market, we need certification as a Class 1 medical device. We were at the point of commencing testing when the COVID-19 lockdown hit.This project will undertake the complex electrical and mechanical tests needed to create the required technical file for medical device classification. We will work with a supply chain partner to establish a cost-effective manufacturing base from which to supply chairs to distributors across Europe who are waiting to place orders.