The World’s First Thai-Made Exoskeleton Wheelchair

An inventive robotic outfit – the world’s first Thai-made Exoskeleton Wheelchair, was unveiled by Chulalongkorn University [March 2025]. It was created to assist individuals with disabilities in standing, walking, and moving around more freely. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ronnapee Chaichaowarat from the Faculty of Engineering created the innovation,with the goal of enhancing mobility beyond conventional wheelchairs.

A New Frontier in Robotics

Chulalongkorn University’s robotics lab, which is housed on the ninth floor of the Chulapat-14 Building, is a central location for academics and students from Thailand and beyond to work together on innovative robotics projects. This lab was designed by Dr. Ronnapee as an alternative learning environment where students construct and test robots through practical experimentation.

The World’s First Thai-Made Exoskeleton Wheelchair

This invention, which Thai researchers have dubbed “Thai Iron Man,” is the first exoskeleton wheelchair. It can change to assist users in standing and walking, which makes navigating stairs or public transportation easier than with traditional wheelchairs. Thailand’s National Research Council (NRCT) funded the project in 2021–2022, and it was a nominee for the Young Technologists Award in 2024.

Assoc. Professor Dr Ronnapee sitting in the chair

The Way It Operates

An exoskeleton and a wheelchair are combined into a hybrid system in the Exoskeleton Wheelchair, a wearable robotic technology that assists users. The robot’s folding wheels and lightweight carbon fibre construction make it simple for users to transition between sitting and walking modes. The hip and knee joints are controlled by a motorized system, and the ankle joint maintains its flexibility to permit natural movements.

This is a novel kind of hybrid robot that blends an exoskeleton and a wheelchair. Using a motor to assist with hip and knee joint movement, the lower leg may switch between sitting and walking. The ankle joint has no drive and is free. To change into a walking position or overcome difficulties, the left and right wheels can be retracted to the lower leg area. Dr. Ronnapee, Associate Professor, explains.

“The design of exoskeleton robots must take into account the ergonomics of the wearer’s body and the robot so that it should not overstretch or shrink too much, nor should it cause skin irritation. Every time the legs swing, so should the exoskeleton. When the knees are bent, the knees of the robot must be bent at the same time,” Assoc. Prof. Ronnapee explained the challenge.

           Assoc. Professor Dr Ronnapee standing in the ekoskeleton wheelchair

Combining Engineering with Human Anatomy

Dr. Ronnapee combined compatibility with biomechanics and kinematics to develop a gadget that replicates human movements. For the exoskeleton to avoid strain or discomfort, it must fit the user’s body. To increase flexibility, a four-bar linkage system was used, which guarantees that the device moves in unison with human joints.
“We use Kinematics Compatibility in the design with linkage knee joints so that the motion of the rotational centre can mimic the actual bone. For the joints supporting lots of leg bending and flexion, we use a four-bar linkage to allow the pivot point to change with the joint.”

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ronnapee applies his knowledge of Biomechanics to calculate the torque generated from around the ankles, knees, and hips to create robots that fit a person’s physiology.

Difficulties and Upcoming Progress

The USD 3850 (approx.) prototype was made possible by research grants. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ronnapee, however, thinks the need for wearable robots will be fueled by Thailand’s aging population. The group is now working on a second prototype that will be more stable when standing and walking. Pending permission from the Research Ethics Committee, patient clinical trials are planned. If this Thai-made exoskeleton wheelchair is effective, it might transform mobility assistance and put Thailand at the forefront of robotics worldwide.

Picture Source: Chulalongkorn University Communication Centre