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设计公司Layer与Materialise 历时两年、联手打造的世界上第一台3d打印轮椅将于2016年的伦敦Clerkenwell 设计周正式面世。轮椅的整体造型精致轻巧，兼具美观与实用。创造性的制造手段不仅将制作周期缩短至两周，还将使树脂座椅的形态完全贴合使用者的体型、体重、残障程度，并根据腿长、脚型和坐姿为其提供合适的钛制脚踏板。此外，使用者还能通过APP参与到前期制作过程，选择附加的配件、轮椅的颜色和款式。而配套使用的手套增加了接触面的摩擦力，大大提高了力的转化程度，即使在雨天也表现出众，解决了困扰轮椅使用者已久的难题。

Benjamin Hubert of experience design agency Layer has designed the world’s first 3D-printed consumer wheelchair. The GO wheelchair prototype is the first project under Layer’s new research division, LayerLAB, and has been created in collaboration with Materialise, world leaders in 3D-printed software and solutions. LayerLAB is a new in- house division of Layer that facilitates experimentation and research into the future of physical and digital products.

The GO wheelchair will be launched during Clerkenwell Design Week at Clerkenwell London as part of an exhibition of Layer’s recent work.

Going forward

The GO wheelchair is two years into its development cycle and is currently at prototype status. Our hope in sharing the design and development at this stage is to draw interest from relevant parties to support the product’s further manufacture and route to market. Materialise are our technology partners with the ability to scan, translate data and build the 3D-printed components. We now are seeking additional partners for the more conventional manufacture of the frame and wheel assemblies as well as distribution and route to market.

Our aim is to get GO into the hands of as many wheelchair users as possible to dramatically improve their quality of life. We hope, with your support, through further awareness and exposure we can continue down the path we have started on.

Informed by insights

The GO wheelchair is the result of intensive research with dozens of wheelchair users and medical professionals conducted by Layer over a six-month insight gathering period as part of a two-year development cycle. During this time, the studio investigated how to remove the stigma associated with wheelchairs as medical devices and instead create a more human-centered vehicle to improve the everyday lives of users.

What they said

“Your body is not designed to push yourself around… every wheelchair user gets arthritis.”
Everett, wheelchair user for 12 years

“You need much, much more purchase in wet conditions.”
Lizzy, wheelchair user for 15 years

“One of the ways you can spot a true paraplegic is their feet on the footplate – they tend to pigeon-toe inwards… For most of us, that is really frustrating because you don’t want to go around looking like that.”
Everett, wheelchair user for 12 years

“A wheelchair should be based on an individual’s measurements and the design should be tailored to their needs.”
Fi, wheelchair user for 10 years

“You want something that can look cool during the day but also get you past the dude at the club.”
Everett, wheelchair user for 12 years

What we did

Layer listened to wheelchair users’ wants and needs whilst consulting with medical professionals to translate those stories and frustrations into insights that could be used to transform the wheelchair as we know it.

The GO wheelchair is made-to-measure, lightweight, and highly functional. It has been designed to t the individual needs of a wide range of disabilities and users, and is a tool to improve the quality of life for wheelchair users.

Made-to-measure

The GO wheelchair comprises two 3D-printed made-to-measure elements – the seat and foot-bay – combined with a number of standard GO wheelchair components. The form of the custom elements is driven by 3D digital data derived from mapping each user’s biometric information, and the resulting wheelchair accurately ts each individual’s body shape, weight and disability to reduce injury and increase comfort, flexibility, and support.

Layer has also designed an app to accompany the GO wheelchair, which allows users to participate in the design process by specifying optional elements, patterns and colourways to t a wider set of needs and desires.

Once biometric information has been recorded and users have specified optional elements, the order is placed via the GO app. The GO wheelchair can be manufactured and delivered in two weeks rather than the 6-8 week lead- time it typically takes for a customised wheelchair.

GO wheelchair

The GO wheelchair seat is 3D-printed in two materials – a semi-transparent resin with an integrated matrix of TPU that acts as shock-absorption. The TPU system is located in the sitting area and acts as a living hinge suspension system that improves ride comfort for the user.

Wheelchair users are seated for up to 18 hours each day and associated injuries and discomfort are commonplace. The made-to-measure seat of the GO wheelchair accurately ts a user’s form, helping to reduce pressure points and the issues they cause.

The seat’s centre of gravity relative to the chairs wheelbase is also calculated in the body-mapping process, and the seat is manufactured to respond to the user’s weight and optimise performance.

Optional elements for the GO wheelchair can be integrated in the 3D-printed seating system via the GO app. These elements include:
• transfer bars – used to transfer in and out of the chair
• push bars – to enable assisted movement
• wheel guards – to protect users from the wheels

The geometry of the 3D-printed titanium foot-bay, with integrated anti-slip surface texture, accurately reflects the user’s leg length, foot shape, and sitting position as determined by the body-mapping process.

The lightweight titanium frame has been designed to have a reduced number of struts. This puts the user and their needs first, minimising the visual weight of the wheelchair but still offering the necessary functionality.

The wheels of the GO wheelchair have lightweight carbon- bre spokes and over-moulded high-grip push rims that, in combination with the GO gloves, deliver a higher power-to-push ratio, especially in wet conditions.

GO gloves

One of the primary concerns of wheelchair users who took part in the research conducted by the studio was the stress and strain involved in self-propelling.

The GO wheelchair has super tactile push rims with a surface designed to lock into the GO wheelchair glove system, also designed by Layer, to deliver greater power-to-push ratio. This unique system – the first of its kind – decreases the risk of injury and painful conditions common to wheelchair users, such as arthritis in the shoulders.

In our words

“At Layer, we’re interested in understanding how people use and misuse the most important tools in their lives. With the GO wheelchair, we saw an opportunity to really progress the manual mobility category for users with disabilities, and to use 3D printing technology to solve significant and meaningful problems.

For the GO wheelchair, 3D printing for manufacture is the most appropriate and powerful technology available to capture each individual’s unique body shape to enhance the form and format of a very necessary product and provide exceptional performance.

We listened to the stories of wheelchair users and medical practitioners and then translated those stories into insights that helped us to transform the wheelchair as we know it today.”

Benjamin Hubert, Director Layer

“We’re really excited to be working with Layer and Benjamin to bring the GO Wheelchair concept to life. It’s an excellent example of the use of 3D Printing to o er mass customisation and personalisation of products. An integral part of the Materialise ethos is to develop meaningful applications of 3D Printing that have a positive impact on individuals lives, and the GO Wheelchair is one of those projects with great potential.”

Philip Hudson – Managing Director, Materialise

Drawings: Layer
English Text: Layer
Chinese Text: gooood

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