The Roamate, showcased at CES in Las Vegas
By Andy Nemann
Mobility devices are a great benefit for people with spinal cord injury and disease who don’t need a full wheelchair, but they can often be cumbersome to transport. However, a new mobility device is offering to not only make that problem easier, but provide more versatility, as well.
The Roamate is a three-in-one powered, smart mobility device that can be folded down to a compact size in less than a minute. Debuting at this week’s mega technology trade show in Las Vegas called CES, the product can be used as a mobility device, a rollator (wheeled walker) or an assisted push walker. Made of a magnesium alloy, the Roamate weighs just 37 pounds and its volume is reduced by 60% when folded making it easy to carry in a car trunk or even onto an airplane.
”My wife has lifted it into our Nissan Leaf,” says Roamate Brand Ambassador and Air Force veteran David Rich from Chandler, Ariz. ”It fits in the closet of an airplane, so you don’t even have to check it in if you get there early enough then it’s waiting for you when you land and it isn’t getting tossed into the luggage compartment.”
Besides being lightweight and easy to transport, the Roamate’s 3.3–pound battery offers 12.5 miles per charge and takes just three hours to recharge. Rich says the battery provided more than enough power for him to travel around the sites and memorials in Washington, D.C., during an Honor Flight trip last year. Additionally, the Roamate offers other features that might be surprising to find on such a device, including:
- Smart AI Hill Control: Onboard artificial intelligence detects the terrain and automatically adds power going uphill or resistance going downhill.
- Robotic-Grade Power: Two 240-watt motors deliver enough power to handle 10-degree inclines and off-road terrain.
- Precision Control: The Roamate has a 25-inch turning radius and a .01-second response time.
A Vietnam War veteran, Rich has back issues that led him to use traditional mobility devices for years, but found them too heavy to transport. He was one of the first people to help beta test Roamate starting last May and received his current version last September. Rich liked the device so much he was asked by the company to represent and promote it. He says the Roamate’s functionality is a big selling point for him.
”Every week, I go to the movies, I use it to go to the mall, and I’m using it to travel around CES,” Rich says on the show floor of the Venetian Expo Center, which is just one of several CES venues around the city. “It’s much more versatile because people who can walk some can use the rollator, but it’s a power rollator. If they’re getting tired going up a hill, they press a button and the motor provides assistance.”
The Roamate is currently available for $1,649 through the company’s website. For more information, visit myroamate.com.
