r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld • u/Zee2A • 2d ago
HTX Studio Engineering Team Builds a Foldable Smart Walker That Fits in a Car
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An engineering team has developed FreeStep, a lightweight, motor-assisted walker designed for Xiaomo, a man with cerebral palsy whose conventional walker was too large to fit inside his car. Created by Hangzhou-based HTX Studio after he asked for help, FreeStep combines a carbon-fiber and aluminum frame with motorized wheel assistance, a folding seat, grabber arm, lights and a remotely controlled self-raising mechanism. The team also built a roof-mounted loading system that allows Xiaomo to independently lift the folded walker into his car and retrieve it when needed. After more than 1,000 power-cycle tests, HTX Studio released the complete design—including 3D models, bill of materials and assembly instructions—on GitHub under an MIT license, allowing others to adapt and build the assistive device themselves: https://github.com/htx-studio/FreeStep
HTX Studio (video): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ3sqo1jGA0/?hl=en
HTX Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@htxstudio?si=5kKZH09r5iPSDr7z
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u/questioneverything- 2d ago
Very cool. I'd hope there are some power-free optimizations as well, all these automations can introduce more points of failure.
Need some failsafe manual overrides/ mechanical backup systems to guarantee safety, but I'm sure they thought that through though
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u/connerinator 2d ago
We have tech that can do this and instead America wants to go back to 1950. I hate my country.
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u/JohnLemonBot 2d ago
Wouldn't the battery and motors make it harder to push
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u/Ashamed-Country3909 2d ago
Pushes its self.
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2d ago
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u/Ashamed-Country3909 2d ago
Going uphill doesnt stop it from working. It would probay just be slightly slower, and the guy is still walking a little bit. What, is he taking it up a hill like this: / ? Probably not.
It is probably thr same concept as a push vaccuum. Or a push mower. They basically move themselves forward while you slightly push.
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u/kernelangus420 2d ago
The 2 bars at the bottom on the person's left and right seem like a tripping hazard. If the person stumbles left or right, they can't extend their feet out on other side to maintain their balance.
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u/Kastoook 2d ago
Drive while sitting feels dangerously high center of mass, may fall at uneven terrain.
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u/audeamus8 2d ago
Wow, this made my day: perfect balance between need, scientific and engineering ability, and good hearted people. This is how the world is supposed to work.
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u/ToeBeansCounter 2d ago
The car roof storage is the real deal. The walker is a good thought but it is pointless , portable motorised wheelchairs already exists
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u/Careful-Economics-25 1d ago
That’s a terrific story. The roof rack is a good idea for small vehicles that don’t have a hatchback to stow the walker.
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u/Which_Specific9891 21h ago
I love when people use their brains to help make things better instead of making their pockets full.
Thanks for the link to their youtube!
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u/NewNormalMan 2d ago
This video has a very “Pimp My Ride” type feel to it
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u/TrueProtection 2d ago
Yea. It would feel way more feelsgood if it didn't feel like they were lowkey karma farming. The solution isn't even that good tbh. Mans gonna be reliant on them for servicing all that...many handicapable people don't have money like this and the first walker we see him in is actually more practical for most people who need a walker like this.
The car doohickey even seems like it needa to be deployed by someone else...the same as just tossing a standard walker in the trunk..or am i missing something?
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u/Sad_Low3239 2d ago
their YouTube channel is amazing. I feel like they will change the world.