- Home
- MedBound Hub
- InternshipInternship
- BiographyBiography
- InterviewInterview
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Biotechnology
- College/InstituteCollege/Institute
- Dentistry
- Blog
- Wellness & Nutrition
- Nursing
- Opinion
- Videos
The Future of Mobility is Here
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras unveiled India’s lightest wheelchair, named YD One, on Wednesday, July 17. Developed jointly by the TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) and Thryv Mobility, an IIT Madras startup, the device weighs just 9 kilograms, setting a new benchmark for mobility assistive devices in India.
What Makes This Wheelchair Special
Along with being lightweight, this groundbreaking innovation is minimalistic, stylish, and available in 14 different colors. Built at par with international standards, it can be fully customized to match each user’s body, posture, and movement needs.
Crafted from aerospace-grade materials using a unique combination of carbon and aluminium, the YD One is not only stronger but also 50% lighter than traditional models.
And at a fraction of the cost, it offers high performance that was earlier only possible through expensive imports.
Explaining the durability, Justin Jesudas, Founder and CEO of Thryv Mobility, told The Hindu:
“With the mono frame, minimalistic design, you slap 120 kg on it and make it run through two lakh cycles of double drum test, and then drop it for 6,666 times for drop test; the device cannot even have a small crack or scratch. That is precision engineering and innovative geometry.”
Justin Jesudas, Founder and CEO of Thryv Mobility
The innovation does not stop at durability. The YD One also brings significant improvements in accessibility.
Why the YD One Innovation Was Needed
When people think of wheelchairs, the image that often comes to mind is something heavy and hard to carry around. That is one reason why, despite large numbers, we do not see many visible wheelchair users because the very device meant to assist them often ends up restricting them.
YD One aims to change that narrative.
Being ultra-lightweight, it is easy to carry, fits into cars, autos, public spaces, and allows users to move more freely, giving them their share of independence and full participation without feeling like a burden.
It is not something people are bound to. It is something they can be proud to use and own.
What the Experts Say
At the launch event, Surgeon Vice Admiral Anupam Kapur, Director General Hospital Services, Armed Forces, said:
“In IIT Madras, the innovations and the products that are coming, are coming with a heart. They are for with everyday usage and are for people who need it the most. Let me assure you that your work does not need to stay in a lab or at a prototype stage. It has to come into the real world. The Armed Forces have just been sanctioned a Centre for Advanced Research by the ICMR. They are going to be collaborating with IIT Madras and other start-ups to do the final medical validation, practical usage and the safety certification of all the innovative products that are coming out of this ecosystem.”
Sharing the long-term vision, Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan, Head of the TTK Center at IIT Madras, said in a press release:
“10 years ago, when R2D2 was established, we set out to change the assistive device landscape in India through world-class products to meet Indian needs primarily. We have realized that our products are well-designed and provide unique advantages in global markets as well, and we are proud to work with our passionate startups to provide affordable choices and freedom to wheelchair users everywhere with YD One and more products to come.”
To kick off the initiative, 20 wheelchairs have already been distributed to deserving users, and the founders plan to ensure that this high-performance solution remains affordable and widely accessible.
Why It Matters
For far too long, wheelchair users in India have struggled with limited mobility, been left dependent on others, and confined by the weight and design of their devices.
But with YD One, there is finally a hope that this reality can change.
It shows that mobility can be light, smart, and dignified, letting users regain their independence without compromise or guilt.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/)
