Today, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) announced the release of YD One, the nation's first precision-built, domestically made mono-tube rigid-frame wheelchair that is as light as possible and on par with the best in the world.
YD One is completely tailored for each user's body, posture, and everyday mobility needs, and it was built in accordance with international standards. Its ultra-lightweight, precisely-engineered design, weighing only 9 kilogrammes, provides maximum strength and energy economy while being easy to lift, handle, and stow in cars, vehicles, or public transportation.
In the presence of Chief Guest Surgeon Vice Admiral Anupam Kapur, Nau Sena Medal, Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces); IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti; Project Coordinator Dr. Manish Anand, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras; Dr. Ravinder Singh, Scientist, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); and other dignitaries and stakeholders, YD One was launched today, July 16, 2025, on the campus of IIT Madras.
Wheelchairs are all too frequently viewed as a universal representation of infirmity, something that limits or confines their user. This story has to be changed. When properly constructed, a wheelchair promotes mobility, independence, and full social involvement rather than being a burden.