A Hong Kong start-up has become the first in Asia and the third globally to produce stair-climbing wheelchairs that can improve the quality of life for people with mobility challenges, according to the company’s Co-Founder.
Libpet Tech’s wheelchairs – currently a prototype - consume less power, have a longer range and cost approximately 60% less than similar products overseas.
Little wonder that the company has won numerous awards and was recently named one of the 10 winners of the HKTDC’s Start-Up Express 2024.
Moved by the plight of wheelchair users, Co-Founder Jojo Xu was inspired to create an all-terrain intelligent wheelchair that allows users to travel freely on uneven surfaces, leveraging his expertise in AIoT and robotics.
To ascend and descend stairs, the wheelchair collects data on the surrounding environment using cameras, ultrasound beams and infrared scanning. Artificial intelligence then analyses the data to determine the gradient, length and width of the staircase and plots an optimal travel path to avoid colliding into obstacles.
The company has obtained patents for the wheelchair’s mechanical design, circuit board and control algorithm, in recognition of the originality and potential commercial value of its invention.
Libpet conducts design, R&D, testing, optimisation and marketing activities in Hong Kong, while working with certified manufacturing partners in Mainland China. The smart wheelchair product is in the final testing stage, and the company expects the first batch to be ready for delivery in 2025. The company is also securing international certifications to ensure compliance with global safety standards.
The start-up received support from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and was incubated in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks.
The company has so far developed four standard models - the Power, Mini, Pro and TenK. The design allows each working module to be easily replaced or upgraded, enabling the wheelchair to adapt to a variety of terrains and user requirements.
For example, to address the challenge of transporting patients on stretchers in hospitals, particularly when elevators are unavailable or congested, Libpet's all-terrain wheelchair offers a safe and efficient solution for navigating staircases.
Potential customers for both standard and customised models include care homes, hospitals, property managers, shopping malls and airports.
Apart from mobility, the wheelchair offers many other potential use cases, such as integrating health monitors to provide users with biometric data, including body temperature and heart rate, or equip the chair with language learning and entertainment functions for schools or leisure venues.
In view of the ageing of the global population, Mr Xu says he has received strong interest from buyers in Hong Kong and key markets, such as Australia, the European Union, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
For now, the company is focused on raising funds to support business development, product expansion and overseas marketing. Mr Xu said he is open to various ways of raising capital, such as venture capital, crowdfunding platforms, bank loans and finance leasing.