Mistral

A wheelchair designed and engineered to help tetraplegia patients regain mobility

2021 China Soong Ching Ling Innovation Award 1st Place

Duration

3 Months

DATE

Sep - Dec 2022 (Engineering), Dec 2025 - Present

Type

Product, Health care, Engineering, Research, Arduino

36th Shanghai Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest 2nd Place

2021 Design For Challenge Global 1st Place & Best Design

Problem

Tetraplegia, caused by spinal cord injuries, limits individuals’ physical control to their head and neck, making independent movement nearly impossible. While assistive technologies support basic communication, travel remains a major barrier—often dependent on caregivers, complex logistics, and systems not designed for ease or dignity. Existing mobility solutions are fragmented, physically demanding, and rarely address the lived experience of traveling with severe physical limitations, leaving no holistic or human-centered options in the market. This creates an opportunity to reimagine mobility and travel experiences that restore autonomy, dignity, and a sense of agency.

NEED

““We’re not asking for special treatment — we just want to be able to get around independently like everyone else.”

— Peng Du, Director of the Beijing New Life Center for Elderly and Disability Support, paralyzed for 23+ years

Controls tailored to Physical Condition

Cost Efficient and Budget Friendly

Styling to Boost Confidence

Solution

An intelligent wheelchair system that enables hands-free mobility through subtle neck movements, eliminating the need for conventional hand controls. A lightweight helmet with an embedded gyroscope detects head orientation and wirelessly translates intent into smooth, precise motion. By shifting control to the user’s remaining range of movement and pairing it with a refined, non-medical form, the system restores autonomy while preserving dignity.

COMPLETE HANDS-FREE EXPERIENCE, SIMPLE MODULAR DESIGN, OBTAINABLE OPTIONS

The engineering of the Mistral Wheelchair prototype is simple yet effective: a gyroscope detects the moving direction of the user’s neck, sending corresponding signals to the servo motor module attached to the wheelchair’s frame, which steers the 3D-printed push frame to move the control stick and hence operate the wheelchair.

Mistral is offered in two configurations to increase accessibility. The full Mistral wheelchair integrates the gyroscope directly with the electric motor for seamless, hands-free operation within a refined, unified form. For greater affordability and flexibility, the modular Mistral system can be attached to most existing electric wheelchairs, extending independent mobility without requiring a complete replacement. This approach broadens access while preserving freedom of choice.