Wheelchair in a major mobility breakthrough, IIT Madras has launched YD One, India’s lightest wheelchair weighing just 9 kilograms, promising personalised comfort, portability, and independence for users dependent on wheelchairs for everyday movement.
Built with aerospace-grade materials, YD One aims to provide high-performance mobility at a fraction of the cost of expensive imports, enabling greater independence and dignity for users. Each wheelchair is fully customised for the user’s body, posture, and daily mobility needs.
- Weighs just 9 kilograms, ideal for daily wheelchair users
- Custom-designed to suit individual posture and movement patterns
- Easily fits into cars, auto-rickshaws, and public transport
The launch of YD One is part of IIT Madras’s broader initiative to combine cutting-edge research with empathetic design, creating practical solutions that respond to real-world challenges.
NDTV Report – more details – Lightest wheelchair by IIT madras
What is a Wheelchair?
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels that is used by people who cannot walk or have difficulty walking due to illness, injury, or disability. It helps them move around independently or with help.
Types of Wheelchairs
- Manual Wheelchair – Moved by the user or pushed by someone else.
- Electric (Power) Wheelchair – Has a motor and is controlled by a joystick.
- Transport Wheelchair – Lightweight, used for short trips, needs someone to push.
- Sports Wheelchair – Specially made for playing sports like basketball or tennis.
- Standing Wheelchair – Helps the user go from sitting to standing.
Who Needs a Wheelchair?
People may need a wheelchair if they have:
- Paralysis
- Broken leg or spine injury
- Neurological conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
- Weakness in legs due to age or disease
- Post-surgery recovery
