Revolutionising mobility with intelligent wheelchair design

Phoenix Instinct, a leading mobility equipment supplier based in Scotland, placed itself at the forefront of transforming the mobility industry with its pioneering vision to develop an ultra-lightweight, intelligent wheelchair.

The goal was to create a product that enhanced the mobility, safety, and independence of wheelchair users while setting a new benchmark in assistive devices. The challenge lay in combining cutting-edge technology, advanced materials, and user-centred design to achieve a wheelchair that was not only functional but truly revolutionary.

Recognising the need for expert input to achieve this ambitious vision, Phoenix Instinct partnered with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) beginning in 2019. This collaboration was key to advancing their innovative project, leveraging the combined strengths of academia and industry to tackle complex problems and drive progress.

Why KTP? Bridging knowledge and industry

A KTP is a unique initiative that pairs businesses with academic institutions to foster innovation and growth. For Phoenix Instinct, partnering with UWS meant accessing a wealth of expertise in engineering, technology, and design research. UWS provided essential insights and research that informed the development of the Phoenix i, an intelligent wheelchair that integrates smart technology with lightweight, durable materials. The KTP model allowed both organisations to work closely, combining practical industry experience with cutting-edge academic research.

This partnership was more than just a collaboration—it was a strategic alliance designed to explore uncharted territory in assistive technology and push boundaries beyond what traditional development processes could achieve. Through the KTP, Phoenix Instinct was able to implement a comprehensive evaluation framework that would ultimately ensure the success and real-world impact of their product.

Creating a meaningful evaluation framework

Through the KTP, Phoenix Instinct and UWS developed a framework to measure progress and guide design decisions. Key evaluation metrics were established to ensure that the wheelchair met the project’s high standards. These included:

• Reducing Weight Without Sacrificing Strength: The challenge was to make the wheelchair as lightweight as possible while maintaining the strength needed for everyday use. The use of carbon fibre allowed Phoenix Instinct to achieve this goal without compromising safety.
• Enhancing Stability with Intelligent Design: To ensure user safety, the KTP focused on designing advanced stabilisation technology. This feature would enable the wheelchair to adjust its centre of gravity, providing users with greater balance and confidence, even on uneven terrain or slopes.
• Smart Technology Integration: The KTP aimed to incorporate sensors and smart control systems that improved user interaction and enhanced the overall experience of mobility.

By bringing academic insights into the development process, the partnership enabled Phoenix Instinct to stay ahead of the curve and make data-driven decisions that benefited users in real-world conditions.

The KTP resulted in the creation of Phoenix i—an intelligent wheelchair that transformed the landscape of assistive mobility. Thanks to the integration of carbon fibre materials and intelligent sensors, the Phoenix i was lightweight, strong, and adaptive. The smart technology embedded within the chair ensured stability by adjusting to users’ movements, making navigation easier and safer.

The Phoenix i wheelchair is very unique, not just because it’s made from lightweight materials in a beautiful organic form, the i is a hybrid, part manual – part electric.

Following a two-year KTP associate with carbon fibre expertise, Phoenix Instinct brought in a second KTP from UWS, this time with electronics expertise. In total, the development of this industry disrupting wheelchair benefited from five years of KTP and UWS support.

The development focused on integrating a power assist capability into the front wheels of the wheelchair. Never before have the front caster wheels of a wheelchair been electric. Naturally, a world’s first innovation required extensive development with a great deal of focus on intuitive control.

This unique, patented feature brings vast benefits to the user that have previously not been possible with other power assist devices. Power assist through the front wheels of a wheelchair has quickly been adopted by customers and is set to shape the future evolution of wheelchairs, that for decades has been static.

This breakthrough product garnered global attention and recognition when Phoenix Instinct won the $1 million Toyota Mobility Unlimited Challenge in December 2020. This win validated the effectiveness of the KTP approach and demonstrated the real-world potential of the Phoenix i as a life-changing mobility solution.

The Phoenix i has redefined user expectations for mobility devices. For end-users, it has provided:

• Increased Independence and Safety: With smart stabilisation technology, users can navigate a wider range of environments, from city streets to challenging outdoor paths, with confidence and greater autonomy.
• Enhanced Comfort and Ease of Use: The lightweight carbon fibre frame made it easier for users to manoeuvre and transport the wheelchair, reducing strain and improving overall comfort.
• Revolutionary Design and Usability: The wheelchair’s user-centric approach set a new standard for what assistive technology can achieve, combining advanced materials with smart design for seamless interaction.

The success of the Phoenix i has been a catalyst for further growth and development for Phoenix Instinct. The company continues to expand on the foundation laid by the KTP, incorporating lessons learned and exploring new opportunities to develop smart technology that will elevate mobility solutions even further.

The impact extended beyond individual users. The KTP and the subsequent success of the Phoenix i showcased the potential for collaboration between academia and industry to create meaningful solutions. It provided a model for future projects and set an example for other companies looking to drive innovation through partnerships