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A Retrofittable Electric Power Assist for Strollers

The Easy-Way means parents don't have to push

By Rain Noe - October 31

in Tech

Someone pushing a wheelbarrow dreads the same things as someone pushing a stroller: Inclines and declines. Battery-operated power assists have existed for wheelbarrows for some time, and because babies are decidedly more precious than bags of concrete, now Polish manufacturer Easy-Way has created a similar device for strollers.

Their eponymous product is retrofittable to any stroller, and without the use of tools. Two 150W motors turn rollers that drive the wheels, moving at a speed you dial in using the handle-attached controller. A built-in accelerometer and gyroscope ensure it maintains the desired speed, whether you're going uphill, downhill or on level ground.

It also features this "rocker" function, which will surely prompt double-takes from passersby:

The motor operates silently, and the range is about 30km (18 miles) on a single charge.

These are currently up on Kickstarter for $495. At press time there were 20 days left to pledge, though they were well short of their $451,000 goal.

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Ale C.

20 days ago

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While the implementation of this device by able bodied people seems pure laziness, I'm excited for wheelchair applications.

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- Dee An
  
  Ale C.
  
  20 days ago
  
  Z
  
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  Pushing heavy wheeled objects isn't exactly a 'natural' activity. Even if it was, the man-made terrain isn't natural. The distance from other carers, the distance between home and shop... these vary greatly from area to area. Quality of paving or asphalt?
  How is raising a child lazy?
  Have you considered there boon of encouraging more people to use strollers over using cars for short journeys? Pollution from car exhausts, disc pads and tyres damaged the health of people other than the car owner.
  
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- Tyson Brazille
  
  Ale C.
  
  19 days ago
  
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  lol, not laziness. I think a study on the intended audience would give you some perspective to use as valuable insight. As a parent myself, there are many visits to parks, museums, etc. that leave me wiped out. Most of the physical drain is directly related to the attention necesito to keep your kids safe, calm, y feliz. So yes, come push my stroller for me because I’m fairly cansada.
  
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