YD One:
IIT Madras recently launched YD One, India’s lightest wheelchair.
- YD One is India’s lightest active wheelchair and the country’s first indigenously developed precision-built mono-tube rigid-frame wheelchair.
- It was developed by IIT Madras’ TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) in collaboration with the startup Thryv Mobility.
- It is fully customised for each user’s body, posture, and daily mobility needs.
- It is built with aerospace-grade materials weighing just nine kilograms, its ultra-lightweight and precision-engineered design delivers maximum strength and energy efficiency.
- It can support up to 120 kg.
- The compact frame allows the wheelchair to be easily lifted and accommodated in vehicles such as cars, auto-rickshaws, and public transport, addressing longstanding concerns around portability and access.
- YD One aims to provide high-performance mobility at a fraction of the cost of expensive imports, enabling greater independence and dignity for users.
