In 2018, Andrea Mocellin developed a full-sized foldable wheel called the ‘Revolve.’ Now, Mocellin has incorporated that technology into a foldable wheelchair dubbed the ‘Revolve Air wheelchair’ that fits inside an airliner’s overhead baggage compartment when compact.
The wheel comprises a central hub, six folding aluminum structures that replace traditional spokes, and an aluminum rim that’s split into six interlocking sections – each of which is covered in a foam-filled tire.
While the wheel is in use, a locking mechanism in the hub keeps it securely in the form of a conventional wheel. Once it’s time to store the wheel, that mechanism is released to allow the two sides of the hub to come apart from one another, so the rim and spokes can be folded down and stored between them – like closing an umbrella.
The Revolve Air wheelchair features two 24-inch ‘Revolve’ wheels joined side-by-side along a shared axle. When the wheelchair is folded, a capsule-like module houses both wheels. When it’s time to use the chair, that capsule is removed, the wheels are popped open, and then the capsule is placed back onto the axle, serving as the seat and backrest. Finally, a contracting frame with a small set of front wheels on end pulls out from underneath the seat/capsule.
Mocellin claims that the Revolve Air can be folded and unfolded in equal amounts of time as it takes a traditional folding wheelchair to perform the same task. However, unlike conventional folding wheelchairs, its size is reduced by 60% when compact. This means it could easily be stored as carry-on luggage aboard aircraft, trains, and buses or placed in the trunk of a car or a taxi.
Mocellin said:
The wheelchair project is now seeking business partners to produce a limited series of the wheelchair in order to be tested by active wheelchair travelers. The whole project had been developed and prototyped in a house with low costs of production. Further development with potential partners would be to focus on maintaining the lightweight frame and maintaining a democratic price to be affordable by potential users.
The prototypes are expected to be ready for testing and certification by 2022. The first bunch of production wheelchairs is estimated to cost around US$2,390 each (€2,000). However, users might also have access to rent the chairs from booths at airports, train stations, and bus terminals.
In April 2020, we saw another kind of foldable wheel on the Tuck Bike – full-sized 700c airless tires and carbon fiber spoked wheels that fold into pieces like stacked slices of pizza. Similar to the Revolve Air, Tuck Bike’s tires never require pumping and are puncture-proof.
