I’ve just finished four days trying out a shiny new Whill Ci “ultra-portable personal mobility device.” The manufacturer is not seeking FDA approval, so in the U.S., it’s not a “power wheelchair.” It is a customizable seat atop four wheels controlled by a joystick. A lithium-ion battery powers the two rear-wheel drive motors.

http://whill.us/model-ci/

Whill Model Ci is a sleek, Z-form-factor device with padded seat & back cushions. Pair of wide seating support members rise from the back wheel to the front of the seat at a 45° angle, forming the center of the Z. A narrow platform (the base of the Z) connects the front and drive wheels. Triangular arms that ride on the support members form the top of the Z.

This is the Japanese company Whill’s third version of “let’s reinvent the power wheelchair.” See their site for more about the initial Model A personal mobility device and it’s-actually-FDA-approved Model M power wheelchair. All these devices have won design awards, and it’s clear they’ve consulted with actual wheelchair users in some of the excellent details.

Quick Specs

115 lbs with Li-Ion battery

Disassembles into three parts

10.5 in rear wheel drive with two motors

Joystick control on one side. On/off, speed, horn, battery charge display on other.

9.8 in front omni wheels replace casters

large fold-up footplate

available now $4000; arrange test drive at site

2.5 in ground clearance, 30 in turning radius with footplate

Nifty Things

Nice build quality. Metal where it counts, high-quality plastic elsewhere

Truly portable. The three parts stand on their own. The heaviest is 43 lbs.

Omni wheels are mind-blowing. They roll sideways , unlike casters that spin on a swivel. Omni wheels increase maneuverability almost to the level of a center-wheel drive chair. For those of us die-hard rear-wheel drivers, it eliminates realigning casters (when you need to back up to go forward).

are mind-blowing. They roll , unlike casters that spin on a swivel. Omni wheels increase maneuverability almost to the level of a center-wheel drive chair. For those of us die-hard rear-wheel drivers, it eliminates realigning casters (when you need to back up to go forward). Front wheel fenders form side walls for feet to rest against, minimizing effort to keep feet on footplate

Entire arm rest assembly swivels back to permit access to tables

Useful adjustability if you’re an average person under 250lbs: more than a basic Medicare chair, less than a rehab chair, see the full details on their site. arm rest distance to seat pan 3" in steps solid seat pan distance to foot plate 3“ in steps; 6° angle; 2” back and forth. back support shell 5" continuously; back at three angles seat available in 16x16, 16x18, 18x18

Claimed maximum incline is 10°. MyGuy was able to motor it up 8 ft folding ramps into back of our van (at least 30°), although the chair spoke to him with a recorded warning “caution: outside specifications”

Handled well on cross slope

Solid seat pan for my Roho cushion

Handled uneven ground well, including (dead) grass, cracked sidewalks and screened gravel.

Hexagonal omni wheel comprises six pairs of large spool-like resilient wheels with one thick outer ring and two thinner rings bridging a metal spoke. Six smaller spools nestle between each set of larger ones. All these wheels spin perpendicular to path of travel.

Things I Didn’t Like

Max speed 5.0 mph

Non-proportional joystick

Not truly programmable: they offer 3 profiles (slow, medium, fast) and four speeds within each profile. Can’t adjust for tremors, can’t set acceleration/deceleration or torque

Rear wheels are narrow and rigid

Single seat post, like a scooter

Operating temps claim 5° to 104° (on site) or 32° to 105° (in handout). Not great for a Wisconsin winter.

Swivel back armrests place joystick/power controls out of reach. Getting under a table is tricky: swivel back power side armrest, maneuver that side under table, then release joystick side and swivel up just enough to get joystick over table and you under table, then finally swivel joystick all the way back.

Not crash-tested, so doesn’t have “WC19” transit tie-downs. There are integral loops in back frame, but an “accessory bar” with no loops under front seat. (I guess they eliminated front loops to avoid liability issues.) You could definitely attach tether straps to front accessory bar

to front accessory bar Slid backwards on sheet ice when attempting to go up a shallow incline. (Didn’t happen with my current chair because it’s at least 100lbs heavier, with wider tires.)

eta Issues rolling over grooved surfaces. Maybe the narrow ridge of an Omni wheel roller fits into the groove, so that the rest of the wheel had to skew against this micro barrier. Happened once on floor with large tiles--slightly lower mortar channels grabbed the wheel and I had to fight it. Again when exiting the bus turning right from anti slip flooring over the low metal threshold of the bus ramp. I coped, but it was surprising and annoying. end eta

Wow, Intriguing.

Professor Xavier esthetic

Omni wheels

Spoken alerts

No push handles, but easy to put in neutral and can push metal back

Metal back neatly holds any tote bag with more than 20" drop

Under-seat box for your stuff

Peep hole in seat pan to simplify installing seating assembly back on seat post

USB port to charge your phone

Charging port is on the battery itself. You could bring battery inside to charge and leave the rest in the car

iOS app communicates with controller via Bluetooth. You can choose among three profiles; see battery status and odometer. App also has a virtual joystick, so you can drive the chair when you’re not sitting in it

Electronic lock, using app or keyfob

Very low profile, palm size joystick is easy to operate and is not a toddler magnet

Final Thoughts