• YD One weighs only 9 kg India’s lightest and fully customizable active wheelchair.

• Jointly developed by IIT Madras and Thryv Mobility, an institute-incubated startup.

• Massive cost advantage vs imported options; designed for real-world use and

In a revolutionary move towards inclusive mobility, IIT Madras, in partnership with its incubated company Thryv Mobility, has introduced YD One, which is touted as India's lightest active wheelchair and the nation's first precision-made, mono-tube rigid frame wheelchair designed indigenously.

At only nine kilograms, YD One wheelchair is designed to international standards and tailored to suit every user's posture, body type, and day-to-day mobility requirements. Its aerospace-grade components and precise engineering provide optimal strength and energy efficiency with lightness that makes it easy to transport in automobiles, rickshaws, or public transport.

The wheelchair was formally launched on July 16, 2025, at the IIT Madras campus, in the presence of Surgeon Vice Admiral Anupam Kapur, NM, Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces); Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Dr. Manish Anand, Assistant Professor and coordinator of the project; representatives from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other dignitaries.

During the event, Vice Admiral Kapur also pushed for redefining wheelchairs from a symbol of disability to an aid for independence and dignity.

"Today, real independence is about inclusion, dignity, and self-reliance for every citizen," he said. "Innovations such as YD One should not remain in labs they must reach out to touch lives."

YD One is developed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional hospital-grade wheelchairs, which are cumbersome, uncomfortable, and not suitable for long-term or outdoor mobility. In contrast, YD One wheelchair India provides high-performance mobility that had previously been available only through expensive imports but now offered at a fraction of the price.

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Emphasizing growing global demand, Kapur observed that 15% of the world’s population   over 1.3 billion people live with disabilities, and that number could rise to 2.5 billion by 2058.

He also announced:

"The Armed Forces, through a newly approved ICMR Centre for Advanced Research, will collaborate with IIT Madras and startups for clinical validation, safety trials, and deployment of such innovative solutions."

Lauding the team, Prof. Kamakoti said,"An inclusive society is key to India's growth. We, at IIT Madras, are resolved to harnessing technology in creating that future."

YD One wheelchair will be mass-produced by Thryv Mobility startup, ensuring Make-in-India to global standards, with emphasis on affordability, accessibility, and user-level customization for Indian and emerging market users.