Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a leading teaching and research institution with expertise in engineering, product design and innovation.
Through the Scaling Innovation Programme, a multidisciplinary team of engineers and researchers developed a prototype power add-on device for manual wheelchairs, designed to help users navigate physical barriers more easily while retaining the benefits of a manual wheelchair.
The Challenge
For many wheelchair users, barriers in the street environment can make everyday journeys more difficult than they need to be. Slopes, dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces, cracked pavements and access ramps can require significant physical effort to navigate, particularly over longer distances. These challenges can reduce confidence, increase fatigue and limit independent travel.
Power-assisted devices can help address many of these barriers, but existing products are often expensive, heavy and difficult to maintain. Many can cost several thousand pounds, placing them beyond the reach of many wheelchair users. Some also require specialist servicing and can affect the portability and manoeuvrability that make manual wheelchairs attractive to many users.
The project set out to explore whether a more affordable, lightweight and modular alternative could be developed without compromising performance, safety or usability.
Developing the Solution
The project focused on designing and building a power add-on device that could be fitted to a manual wheelchair and provide additional assistance when navigating physical barriers.
Starting from an early-stage concept, the team developed and tested a working prototype that progressed from a proof-of-concept idea to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 to 5. The device uses a friction-drive system powered by an electric motor and integrates braking, steering and control systems into a compact and lightweight design.
A key objective was affordability. The team estimates that a future production version could cost less than one-third of comparable products currently available on the market, while remaining lightweight, modular and easier to maintain. The design has also been developed with serviceability in mind, with the ambition that maintenance could be carried out by local bicycle shops rather than specialist providers.
Throughout the project, extensive design modelling, virtual prototyping and physical testing helped refine the concept and demonstrate its feasibility.
Working with Wheelchair Users
Two members of the project team are wheelchair users and brought direct experience of navigating physical barriers and using mobility equipment. Their insight helped shape the design requirements and informed decisions relating to safety, ergonomics and usability.
The project also engaged wheelchair users at Oxford Brookes University, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, as well as wheelchair user groups at the John Radcliffe Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. Feedback from these stakeholders informed the design specification and helped identify opportunities for future development and testing.
This collaborative approach ensured that accessibility considerations remained central throughout the design process and that the prototype reflected real-world experiences and priorities.
Impact
The project has demonstrated that a lightweight, affordable power-assist solution is both feasible and achievable.
Initial testing showed that the prototype could assist wheelchair users in navigating slopes, uneven surfaces and other common street barriers while maintaining stability, steering control and effective braking. The device remained compact, lightweight and compatible with the folding characteristics of manual wheelchairs.
By reducing the physical effort required to overcome everyday obstacles, the project has the potential to support greater confidence, choice and independence for wheelchair users. The focus on affordability could also make power assistance accessible to a wider range of people who may currently be unable to access existing solutions.
What Happens Next?
The team is now focused on refining the design and preparing for larger-scale user trials. Future development will include improving the mounting system, enhancing durability, refining the control mechanism and undertaking more extensive testing with wheelchair users.
Oxford Brookes University is also exploring future funding opportunities and potential partnerships with manufacturers to support commercial development and wider adoption.
By combining engineering expertise with lived experience, the project demonstrates how innovation can help remove barriers within the built environment and support more accessible, independent journeys.