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Today (28th September 2005) I tested
Independence Technologies all new iBOT 4000 Powerchair.
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 I really wanted one of these
iBOT 4000 Powerchairs but I am not so sure now. The first one
(reviewed
in depth here) had some obvious issues and
problems
This new iBOT has addressed some of them to a greater or
lesser degree but added some extra ones!
Great... Generally though it is a big improvement in many areas
and more refined.
This chair is almost perfect
but for a few minor niggles that ruin it and rule it out for me and
probably many others.
They don't seem to understand your average paraplegics
needs or requirements!
This is a long and detailed review since
this is such an important Powerchair and BIG forward step in
technology that SHOULD be useful to all of us if properly
implemented. And here is the problem.
Although the "core" technology is excellent, it is let down
badly in the actual Powerchairs design details and in the
programming (nothing new here! ALL powerchairs are like that sir!) as well as the
"big brother" attitude
of the company!
Well as most of
you will already know, this chair has four modes of
operation just like the last one described in detail
here
1. Stair
climbing
2.
Balancing - high or low!
3. Normal
mode
4. four
wheel drive with self levelling seat for slopes, off road,
curbs etc.
----------------------------------------
 OK then, this review follows on
from the 1st review of the older original iBOT 3000 chair
here. For
this review to make any sense at all you really should read the
original one first!
The new iBOT
4000 Powerchair addresses some of the issues and concerns
that the original one had. In short this chair is basically
"all new" at least it seems so visually! They wont
let me take it apart yet! (Wait until I buy one!)
This one seems
a little better behaved too in all of its modes! So obviously some work on the
programming and / or sensors has been done too especially in
balance mode and transitioning from one to the other which
is now much smoother.
The mechanicals
that drive the wheels and the rotating "pairs" of wheels on
this new iBOT 4000 wheelchair are also new. Now gear driven
instead of belts like the (noisier) older iBOT 3000 one.
These things matter, if you are using the thing 24 / 7 as I
have to do.
So what do I think
of it? Well it decided I was too fat - which
looking at the pictures is pretty damned obvious! So I
instantly took a dislike! (I am joking, its not the
chairs fault I am fat is it?)
It
and I had no real issues with balancing mode (more later), driving in 4 wheel drive mode,
but it overheated its motors and refused to climb step three
into my local pub!! It just shut down and refused to
do anything other than request a service! But that's NOT the
wheelchairs fault, but my own. I am now on a diet again...
The 17.5 stone weight limit matters, especially for stair
climbing it seems! Surely they are going to have some
issues with this, especially in the USA? I know lots
of people in wheelchairs that are fat due to the fact that
they cannot exercise?
Right, in detail...
Don't take all
of this following page(s) too seriously. Because I am extremely
picky and particular as both an engineer and a real disabled
end user. I am hoping the manufacturers and
specifically the designers read this! And yes I will
help them if they ask free of charge! I WANT a better iBOT.
I KNOW what I am
talking about, I know what I want and need, and I know bad
design and or setup when I see it! Most of the issues that bug me, most people
will not care about. But the manufacturers
REALLY should!
I actually really like this
chair. But it is ruined for me by a few details.
Unless I can get access to a few
parts to modify and either reprogram the software's settings
or get "them" to do so for me, then I couldn't live with it as it
is. I really shouldn't need to start modifying a new
Powerchair especially at this price, (£17,000) but again it
seems there will be no choice. As usual. That's OK for me as I
have the ability and equipment to do this, but not always for the
rest of you!
1. The seat
is hugely lower! In the last test, of the old chair
one of my complaints was that the seat was too high.
Well now its lower than my other chairs! So that's
fixed then! What else can I say! Other than you
can choose to make it higher, or tilt at will in any case!
Hooray! Improved!
Continued on
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