Leave it to an Israeli to reinvent the wheel.
SoftWheel has added an innovative suspension system to the wheel, which benefits those confined to wheelchairs by improving the comfort of the ride. While conventional wheelchairs lack suspension causing strain on the body and fatigued riders, the SoftWheel system responds selectively, coming into action as the terrain demands.
The new design incorporates three compression cylinders that absorb the shock before it reaches the rider. The design of the wheel allows the rider to adjust tension to a variety of road conditions.
Israeli farmer Gilad Wolf invented the system after he broke his pelvis in 2008.
After feeling every impact of his wheelchair with the rows of crops, he invented a better wheelchair for off-road applications.
He took his ideas to Rad-BioMed Technology Accelerator in Tel Aviv which resulted in the Tel Aviv-based start-up SoftWheel.
“Very quickly we understood it’s not just about putting the suspension inside the wheel. The beauty of our technology is not only that it’s an integral part of the wheel, it’s selective and symmetric. That’s the game-changer,” CEO Daniel Barel said. (JPost)
Barel said the invention has the potential to revolutionize cars, trains, cranes, and even airplane landing gear.
The company is currently working in collaboration with Ziv-Av Engineering Group, which calls the new design a “breakthrough technology that changes the perception of the wheel and its function.”
