Demonstrating poimo as Inflatable, Inclusive Mobility Devices with a Soft Input Interface

ABSTRACT

In this demo, we showcase poimo, a series of POrtable and Inflatable MObility devices made of a balloon-like soft material called drop-stitch fabric. Poimo has two merits: (1) inflatability of a soft and lightweight body allowing users to deflate and carry it on a small scale and (2) inclusiveness enabling made-to-order design and fabrication of mobility devices for each user. As an alternative way to conventional rigid controllers, we also introduce a soft and deformable input interface to navigate a sofa-type poimo. Finally, we report two types of field studies: public users riding on two types of poimos on a flat paved road, and the authors riding on a sofa-type poimo in a traditional European environment with inclined stone-paved streets.

References

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