Living with muscular dystrophy, Mumbai engineer Siddhant Singh designs AI-enabled prototype to help wheelchair users navigate stairs and uneven terrain independently.
Turning his personal challenges into innovation, a wheelchair-bound mechanical engineering graduate from Veermata Jijabai Institute of Technology (VJTI) in Mumbai has developed a compact robotic wheelchair that can climb stairs and move across uneven surfaces.
Siddhant Singh, who lives with the medical condition Muscular Dystrophy, designed the wheelchair after facing accessibility problems in everyday life. The device is currently at the prototype stage and combines robotics with assistive technology to improve mobility for people with disabilities.
According to Singh, the wheelchair has retractable wheels and a dual-track system. This allows it to switch from regular wheeled movement to a tracked mode. “When the track system is activated, the chair can climb and descend stairs and move on uneven terrain. An active self-balancing system keeps the user stable and comfortable,” he said.
The wheelchair uses both traditional control systems and artificial intelligence to function. Stabilisation technology helps the chair stay balanced, while AI enables it to adapt to real-world conditions such as irregular steps or rough surfaces.
The device is fitted with sensors including depth cameras, motion sensors and wheel trackers. These sensors collect data and map the surroundings in real time, helping the wheelchair detect obstacles, understand the shape of steps and choose a safe path. This allows the user to perform tasks such as climbing stairs at the press of a button.
Singh said the wheelchair is the first product using this technology but the system could be applied to other devices in the future. “Our start-up aims to use this technology to improve accessibility, not just through wheelchairs but through other innovations as well,” he said.
Although stair-climbing wheelchairs are available in the international market, Singh claims that his product will be cost effective. “The device is currently available for more than Rs.5 lakh at the least. We plan to make it available for Rs.3 lakh. And as we start large-scale production, we will be able to reduce the cost further.” A unique feature of this wheelchair is a ‘restroom alignment mode,’ which allows the wheelchair to precisely position itself above the toilet, enabling users to access restrooms independently without transferring to another seat.
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Singh has applied for a patent under the IoT based technology used in this device which allows remote operation via the internet even from a different city. He said that the wheelchair is only an initial product of his start-up which plans to develop remotely operated all-terrain robotic vehicles for defence services with this technology.
The project has already received innovation grants, including the Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE) programme of the Government of India and support from the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People. These funds will help build a full-scale prototype and carry out extensive testing before a possible commercial launch in the next few years under the start-up NishCorp Technologies.
Singh was able to walk until the age of five but gradually lost mobility due to muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness.
His teacher, Nitin Gulhane, recalled that Singh’s parents brought him to college every day so he would not miss classes. “Despite the physical limitations he has faced, his determination has been remarkable. His innovation could help wheelchair users access places that are often difficult to reach,” Gulhane said.
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The project also carries personal meaning for Singh. His younger brother, Nishay, who had the same condition since birth, passed away three years ago. Singh has named his start-up NishCorp Technologies in his brother’s memory.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
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