BCIT researcher develops electric wheelchair that can climb stairs, navigate obstacles

A researcher from BCIT has developed a wheelchair designed to be able to climb stairs and navigate other obstacles.

The BEAST, a wheelchair designed to handle off-road trails, tight spaces, and other challenges, will compete in the Wheelchair Race category at the CYBATHLON 2024 event, taking place in Zurich, Switzerland.

Dr. Jaimie Borisoff will lead BCIT’s team in the global competition, which will draw in more than 100 teams of engineers and technologists from over 30 countries around the world.

“For the past 15 years, my research has been focused on wheelchair technology and making wheelchairs better suited to doing tasks you can’t do in a wheelchair,” Borisoff said.

“The whole spirit of this international competition is to foster research and innovation that eventually does trickle down to actual market products.”

Borisoff says competing in the CYBATHLON competition is part of a much larger project the BCIT team is working on to develop new hybrid-manual wheelchairs with expanded features and capabilities.

“I’ve done things from design and modeling to installations and machining. Just now I’ve been doing some 3D printing,” he said.

“We took a lot of inspiration from the ebike industry. We have three ebike motors on three different wheels, we’re using lithium ebike batteries, then we have server motors that twist things and clasp things as well.”

The CYBATHLON will take place Oct. 26 and 27. The events aims to break down barriers between the public and individuals with disabilities, showcasing how innovative technologies can empower people with physical disabilities to perform everyday tasks.