SUTD student creates motorised device to improve wheelchair mobility

Berita Harian, Siswa SUTD cipta alat bermotor untuk lancarkan penggunaan kerusi roda

(Translated summary)

After breaking his left fibula during football training and relying on a wheelchair for nearly two months, SUTD student Luqman Hafiz Alwi, 22, was inspired to improve mobility for wheelchair users. Together with five campus friends, he developed PushPal, a modular motorised device that can be attached to existing wheelchairs, allowing smoother movement, support for users up to 100 kg, and the ability to navigate slopes and various surfaces.

The project, showcased at the Project STEM Up! exhibition, aims to make wheelchairs more affordable, adaptable, and safer for both users and caregivers. PushPal has been selected as one of 11 finallists in SUTD’s Create4Good Innovation Fund and received S$6,000 funding through the Baby Shark Fund, with plans to secure further investment and offer rental services at attractions such as the Singapore Zoo and Gardens by the Bay.