Testing the Strutt ev¹: A Glimpse into the Future of Power Wheelchairs

I was a bit skeptical of the Strutt ev¹ when I first heard about it in a press email announcing “a Tesla-level innovation in personal mobility.” I’m all for innovation, but smart wheelchairs have been talked about for decades, and recent advancements in power wheelchairs usually feature similarly soaring language with few true changes in user experience.

My skepticism was two-fold. One: Would a company with no prior experience in the personal mobility space be able to build a wheelchair that functions well for full-time wheelchair users? Two: Would “advanced sensor systems” and semi-autonomous drive technology be useful for someone looking to navigate their world independently, or would they make you feel like a passenger in a robotaxi — along for the ride but with little say in how you get from A to B?

I took a trip to “Strutt Day” in San Francisco to find out.

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PRODUCTS

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PRO TIPS

Building LEGO with Quad Hands
New Mobility Editor-in-Chief Ian Ruder first got a LEGO set years ago and didn’t even consider building it because he thought there was no way his quad hands would be able to manipulate the tiny pieces. But he eventually gave a small set a try and found that by using the right tools — including a simple typing stick with a nail taped to the end — and a lot of practice, he could build even the biggest LEGO sets independently. See how he does it.

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