Polish scientists have developed innovative mobility solutions featuring environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and attractive means of transport specifically tailored for people with disabilities and at risk of social exclusion.
- 28 January 2016
The premise of the project was the creating of prototypes that would allow us to collaborate with the industry, which would accelerate and further develop the implementation of these systems and means of transport developed under the ECO-Mobility project. An example of the research carried out is on lever-driven wheelchairs: it has already received further funding and commercialisation of the developed lever wheelchairs will be carried out by a private company from the Mazowsze region.
Scientists working on the EU co-funded project ‘ECO-Mobility’, launched by the Warsaw University of Technology, developed several sustainable means of transport and mobility solutions, including a Personal Rapid Transit System (PRT), an eco-car, a system for verticalisation and aiding motion, and two innovative wheelchairs. Furthermore, they developed orthopaedic stabilisers for knee joint and long bone fracture treatment.
Polish scientists looked at the mobility issue from a wider perspective, thus trying to meet the specific needs of people with limited mobility and at risk of social exclusion.
Investing in public transport
The project included designing, developing and building prototypes of five different mobility solutions. The PRT is based on a driverless vehicle cabin that moves within a special electric track and may become an environmentally friendly alternative to individual car transit. The eco-car is a prototype of electric city-car designed for car hiring that could be driven by a person on a wheelchair as well as by someone without any disability.
The project also included designing a prototype of a leg exoskeleton – a device designed to optimize the walking ability of people with limited mobility. Furthermore, researchers built test stands and prototypes for both electric and manual wheelchairs, and worked on constructing stabilisers for functional treatment of periarticular fractures, which occur around or immediately adjacent a joint. Finally, a new skeletal structure of hip joint end prosthesis was also developed.
The project is strongly based on research and implementation of innovative technologies observed worldwide (e.g. Automated People Movers & Automated Transit Systems, Automated Transit Network, driverless car, etc.). Difficulties that arise in cities as a result of the development of individual transport can be reduced only through the promotion of public transport. Therefore, mobility solutions promoted through the ECO-Mobility project meet the requirements of the above technologies.
From theory to practice
Industry and local authorities have shown interest in the ECO-Mobility solutions: pilot implementation and demonstration of systems developed by ECO-Mobility is being considered in the city of Rzeszow. The implementation of ECO-Mobility solutions is expected to stimulate inclusive growth by integrating people at risk of social exclusion in society.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “ECO-Mobility” is EUR 6 634 350, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 5 531 460 from the Operational Programme “Innovative Economy” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.