iBOT 4000

This chair does some exciting things!!

I can't thank openhighway enough for providing this review!

iBOT 4000 Test Drive Review

Styling

Some powerchair manufacturers place an emphasis on styling, some do not. The iBOT falls into it's own category in that it is an engineer's design. Form is second to function. There is no fancy paint job, yet there is a visual interest in the mechanical look of the thing. The joy stick pod is big and clunky, but it also has a sizable LCD screen that's easy to read and has large icons. The front caster arms are a contrast to the rest of the machine. They are made in a graceful curve with an almost delicate, bridge truss look. The caster wheels themselves are a quirky looking new technology from Michelin called 'Tweels'. They look strange and toy like, but functioned OK. The caster forks are very utilitarian pieces and don't share the elegant look of the caster arms. Single sided caster forks would be more in keeping with the advanced mechanical look of the chair.

Fit and Finish

If you grab the chair and give it a tug and push, everything flexes. It is not solid in its tracks, as you would expect a $26,000 powerchair to be. The seatback appears to be from a low budget van. The armrests are very long and do not lock in the down or up position. They were also loose at their hinge points. For those that rely upon a solid handhold for transferring this is a problem, There is a provision to adjust them closer or further from your body, but moving them in close causes interference with the seat back when they are raised to the up position. There are no 'canes' or push handles in the traditional sense. There is a steel loop an attendant could use in the stair-climbing mode that is mounted high on the seat back. There are two hooks on the seat back ostensibly to hang a bag onto, but they are out of reach for all but the most agile user and look like an afterthought. There is no way to secure a bag to hooks anyway and it could fall off or someone could take it and you would never know. The socket for the external charger is located low on the left side and is not visible from the seat. There are tie-down rings at all four corners, which few chairs have, and the FDA has rated the chair OK for vehicle transport.

Driving Impressions

The iBOT operates in four different modes, Regular Rear Wheel Drive, Four Wheel Drive, Balance and Stair-Climbing.

The first one, Regular, is a typical RWD powerchair. It feels somewhat long and is nowhere as maneuverable as modern six wheelers or Mid-Wheel Drive chairs. Independence Technologies has decided to make the programming of the joystick response out of the reach of the consumer. There are four 'maps' of joystick response available that govern how the chair operates. Available to the driver are two ranges, low and high. There are considerable differences between the 'maps', but the fastest of them was still not crisp and responsive in Regular mode. The slowest was a real dog. Which 'map' was used required programming by the manufacturer. Regular mode allowed the highest top speed, which is claimed to be 6.8 mph.

The second mode, Four Wheel Drive, is a hoot. The balance system kicks in and you can go up and down full size curbs with no problem and your chair stays level. In this mode you can also raise the seat height considerably. Grass, gravel and hilly terrain are no problem, but this mode would shred carpets so it's an outdoor thing. The ride is quite smooth in part due to the pneumatic tires. There is a problem here though, they are tube types. Tube type tires are really prone to getting flats and fixing them is a pain. Independence Technologies does not offer foam inserts or tubeless tires. The joystick response is much more linear and intuitive in this mode. Top speed is only about 3.5 mph, but in the real, rough and bumpy world you just glide along with little that can stop you.

The third mode, Balance, is the one totally unique to the iBOT. It hoists itself up onto two wheels. Here you are able to rise up to about eye level with a 6' person. The machine is actively working under you and responds to the shifting of your weight. Lean forward to shake someone's hand and you roll forward a bit. Lean back or to the side and the computer compensates slightly with a little roll. It's a little like being the plate balancing on a stick held by a juggler. The higher you raise yourself up the slower the top speed. At full extension you go perhaps .5 mph. At the lowest balance height top speed is about 3.5 mph. Joystick response is slower than in the other modes. When starting off from stopped, the chair leans forward a little then rights itself. Braking needs more room than the other modes as the chair needs time to react to the change in speed. It's not hard at all to get the hang of it. In Balance mode, you can spin around in place. It surprisingly is also the most energy efficient of all the modes.

The fourth mode, Stair-Climbing, often scares people when they are imagining it. There have been other stair-climbing chairs but they didn't work like this one. With an assistant or by yourself if there is a handrail, the world we live in changes dramatically. When you learn the rhythmic rocking the chair requires to perform the maneuver, a flight of stairs is no longer an obstacle. The chair was able to climb and descend with a very positive dependable feel.

Available Options and Product Development

Apart from an automotive seat or a steel pan for use with a rehab style cushion there aren't any options. This is the biggest problem with the chair. If you don't fit it, you are out of luck. The original iBOT 3000 was complained about because it was too tall. The company's response was to lower it dramatically from a seat to floor height of 21" down to 18" on the 4000 model. It now goes under most tables and desks. The problem that was not recognized was that chairs have to fit people first, the environment second. Taller wheelers need bigger chairs and have to put up with not getting under tables. The engineers at Independence Technologies made no provision for raising the seat to floor height.

The emphasis on design of the iBOT is on its extraordinary engineering, not on ergonomics. It's got clunky, swing away foot rests, the seat back and arms are recycled from an old van and there is no where to securely store your stuff. If you are taller than 5'10", you probably won't fit it comfortably.

The product development thus far has concentrated on the innovative operation of the mechanics not what people need to sit in this chair for 15 hours a day. Further improvements are needed. In the simplest terms Independence Technologies needs to think of this chair as two parts, equally important as the other; the power base and the seating system. They need not design the seating system but design their power base to accept some of the best on the market. The other manufacturers do this already and haven't had the same fight with Medicare for funding approval. The difference may be viewing the chair as a true and viable mobility aid verses a novelty.

Distribution and Servicing

A motivation for writing this review was to test a chair that few people will see, but many should know about. It has the technology to overcome many of the obstacles to mobility and accessibility often encountered.

However, this is not an easy product to see, test or acquire. Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of Independence Technologies, has many products to sell and has not come to understand the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) business. There are only 11-company reps. in the US. No other company besides Independence Technologies can sell or service the iBOT, so there is a long waiting period to get to try one. You must be very persistent to get the opportunity. Other manufacturers depend on hundreds of DME companies across the country to distribute their products, many of which are enormously complicated and require specialized training to set up and service. Their company reps are not the gatekeepers to the products but rather they are troubleshooters and provide training for their DME distributors. This is far more efficient. It's evident that there is much concern about product liability by Johnson & Johnson and this may be the driving force behind keeping this product out of the mainstream distribution channels.

Product Specifications

Seat to Floor Height: Rehab Seat: 18 inches (457 mm)

Automotive Seat: 21.5 inches (546 mm)

Maximum Drive Range: 12.4 miles (20.4 km)

depending on function

Maximum Speed: 6.8 mph (10.9km/h) programmable

Drive Wheels: 12 inches (305 mm) pneumatic

Casters: 6 inches (152 mm) solid

Ground Clearance: 3 inches (76 mm)

Minimum Turning Radius: Standard: 39.8 inches (1012 mm)

4-Wheel: 29.9 inches (760 mm)

Balance: 30.6 inches (776 mm)

Remote: 31.6 inches (803 mm)

Overall Length: 42.9-46.9 inches (1090-1190 mm) including footrest

varies with seat size

Overall Width: 25.2-28.7 inches (640-730 mm); varies with seat width

Battery: Two x 67.2 volt; Weight 24 lbs (11kg) each;

recharge time 6-8 hours

Unladen weight: 289 lbs (131kg)

Tilt: 10 degrees

About The iBOT™ Mobility System - Company Blurb -

Expand your horizons with the iBOT™ Mobility System

Enjoy new opportunities with the revolutionary INDEPENDENCE® iBOT™ 4000 Mobility System. The iBOT™ Mobility System has a combination of features that is unlike any wheelchair ever created.

Power across sand, gravel, grass and other uneven terrain, easily climb kerbs up to 5” and steps, rise to an “eye-level” position and hold a conversation, even when you are on the move.

You can choose between 5 different operating functions:

  * 4-Wheel – travelling across uneven terrain

  * Balance – raising yourself to eye-level

  * Stair – getting you from here to there

  * Standard – proceeding with confidence

  * Remote – taking your iBOT™ with you

Created for people who want to be spontaneous and independent, the iBOT™ Mobility System lets you choose your own path.

How does the iBOT™ Mobility System work?

The iBOT™ Mobility System contains patented iBALANCE™ Technology, an integrated combination of sensor and software components and multiple computers that work in conjunction with gyroscopes. Gyroscopes are motion sensors that help maintain balance. When the gyroscopes sense movement, a signal is sent to the computers. The computers process the information and tells the motors how to move the wheels to maintain stability. This electronic balance system is custom-programmed to the user’s centre of gravity to monitor and respond to subtle changes in motion. Reach forward to shake hands and your iBOT™ Mobility System moves with you. Lean back and it moves away as well. The iBOT™ Mobility System constantly realigns and adjusts its wheel position and seat orientation to keep the user upright and stable at all times, even when driving up and down kerbs or inclines. In addition, the iBOT™ includes built-in triple redundant backup systems, as well as auditory and visual signals to provide even more safety and assurance.

For another excellent review on the 4000 click here.