What do a wheelchair, a Segway and the new OMNIMATE® 4.0 plug from Weidmüller have to do with each other? Lukas Rigler, founder ofHoss Mobility GmbH, builds incredibly innovative wheelchairs using self-balancing drive technology. And because quality is also in the detail, he relies on the OMNIMATE® 4.0 with SNAP IN connection.
It's the little things that cause problems: uneven paving stones, tram tracks or protruding manhole covers. People who are dependent on a wheelchair are familiar with these challenges. "It's not stairs or steps, it's precisely these supposedly small bumps that make it difficult to get around in a classic wheelchair," assures Lukas Rigler. And he has only realised this himself since he found an unusual buyer for his aging Segway: a young man who is dependent on a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis (MS) and wanted to convert the Segway into a wheelchair. With the single-axle vehicle, he hoped to be able to overcome the small everyday obstacles more easily. And so a business idea was born and a few surprises were inevitable. "You have to be naive, otherwise it won't work," says Lukas Riegler with a laugh, summarising the founding of his company Hoss Mobility GmbH, which he took off the ground with a partner in 2017. "It took us ten times longer and ten times more money than we thought". The idea: a single-axle wheelchair with a self-balancing drive - a completely new development - ultimately without a third-party device as a basis. A cool thing that guarantees users a new level of mobility and promises the manoeuvrability of indoor equipment with the off-road capability of an off-road machine.
The key to the intuitive handling of the "hoss" is its ability to stabilise itself dynamically. Lukas Rigler compares it to a person's mobility: "If a person leans forwards without moving their legs, they would fall on their nose. To prevent the fall, the brain commands one leg to move forwards. So when you lean forwards, you automatically move forwards, one step at a time. The hoss does the same, but with two wheels instead of legs. Powerful processors and electric motors accept the functions of the brain and muscles." And it is precisely these that often overshadow the tiny details that are so important. The focus is on the control system, the power electronics - all that seems to be the most important thing. "Every detail, no matter how small, is a science in itself that is easily overlooked," Rigler knows from his own experience. This is also what happened to the plug-in connectors on the control boards. "Plugs are plugs, you screw them in and then they hold. Full stop." People usually don't even think about the plugs, in 80% of cases they fit. But what if you spend most of your time dealing with the other 20 per cent? "A lot can go wrong in the process. A plug with a value of € 0.40 can trigger a recall campaign with a value of € 1,000," explains Rigler. Not affordable, especially for a young company. And then he came across the new OMNIMATE® 4.0 plugs from Weidmüller.
We are much faster with the OMNIMATE® 4.0 portfolio. With a 10-pole plug, we will certainly save ten minutes during installation.
The electronic components are getting smaller and smaller, but the circuit boards remain the same size. This is due to the plugs, which take up a lot of space. This results in a chain of dependencies. The plug needs space on the circuit board, which requires a correspondingly large enclosure, which in turn requires sufficient installation space that cannot be utilised in any other way. However, if the plug is at least space-saving because it can be used in a modular way, then everything could be made a little smaller. The OMNIMATE® 4.0 from Weidmüller gives rise to this thought experiment. "The new plug is the essence of round 60 years of development work by Weidmüller on the subject of connectivity and combines three innovations in one: a unique connection technology, modular product design and fast delivery," explains Rudolf Heinsching, Sales Representative at Weidmüller Austria. The number of poles is individually and modularly configurable. This means that you don't have to install 12 plugs if you only need eight. The wires can be wired quickly and securely tool-free without wire-end ferrules, and a visual and acoustic signal (a clicking sound) confirms successful wiring. The unique SNAP IN connection also eliminates the need for tedious cable glands on the circuit board. "We are now much faster," says Lukas Rigler, confirming the product benefits. "With a 10-pole plug, we are certainly ten minutes faster during installation." And the ordering process is also quick. About the Weidmüller Configurator ordered, the OMNIMATE® 4.0 is shipped 'wire-ready'. "In a presentation, a Weidmüller employee once described the plug as the iPhone among plugs. I can subscribe to that," says Lukas Rigler, confirming his enthusiasm for this supposedly inconspicuous detail.
The "hoss" is modern not only because of its technology and design. Updates to the controller also run via a built-in GSM module, which is always active and stores all technical data. "This means we don't have to rely solely on the subjective and sometimes inaccurate information provided by the drivers, but can download the log files and find the error based on the data," explains the inventor. About an app, the top speed or the sensitivity of the joystick steering can also be adjusted. "At 15 km/h, the hoss is faster than average, which means you don't have to use the car or public transport for many journeys. Our customers don't have to worry about range either.
The hoss is available with a range of 30 km or 60 km." Security is of course taken care of: in the rest position, the hoss is mechanically stabilised by a support. The moment the hoss goes into balance, redundant gyro and acceleration sensors analyse the driver's behaviour several hundred times per second.
The status of the balance system is permanently monitored by a 100% decoupled and patented support system. In an emergency, this can extend in a fraction of a second and bring the hoss safely to a halt.
After three years of development work, the first "hoss" was launched at the end of 2020, and around 100 units are planned for this year, says Lukas Riegler. Over the last few years, he has learnt a lot, including that small companies do not have the same status with suppliers as large customers. "We build a niche product, our order quantities are smaller. Nevertheless, we want to be taken seriously by our suppliers. Also in terms of pricing," asks Rigler. This is different at Weidmüller. The original intention was to buy an automatic crimping machine from Weidmüller, but during the conversation with Rudolf Heinsching, they came across the new OMNIMATE® 4.0 plug. "And the price is right too," closes Lukas Rigler.