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A black power assist device that attaches to the back of the wheelchair. It is controlled by a watch, separate switch, or SpeedControl Dial.
This device has been life-changing! It has enabled me to go to college independently, go up hills, walk the dog, and so on.
To attach the SmartDrive to the back of the wheelchair, it connects to the axle bar between the wheels on a rigid chair using a clamp, or attaches to a removable bar that then slots between the two wheels on a folding chair.
To operate the SmartDrive, double-tap the watch on your wheels; single-tap to lock in speed; and double-tap to stop. It has a long battery life; I’ve used it at Alton Towers, and it lasted the entire day with some charge remaining. For reference, I am a full-time wheelchair user paralysed from the chest down.
Pros:
– Easy to use.
– Goes up to 12 mph and covers a 7-mile radius.
– Long-lasting battery.
– Very reactive, it stops and starts almost instantly.
– Charges quickly.
– Adjustable speed and responsiveness.
– Large control watch equipped with good accessibility features.
Cons:
– Very expensive.
– Heavy to carry and put on or take off.
– Slow control watch with poor battery life. (However, I have learnt that if I turn the watch off when I am not using it and silence all notifications, it lasts longer.)
I don’t have any pictures of it on my chair, but it looks the same as the photos on Google.
