The Hand Drive wheelchair attachment can be attached to any wheelchair and allows it to be powered in a rowing motion. This motion is better for your back, as it uses bigger muscle groups, and it keeps your hands cleaner. Our attachment is almost entirely 3D printable, it’s completely open source, and costs only $40 to make, which is less than 1% of the cost of its competitors on the market.

The Hand Drive wheelchair attachment uses a dual ratchet mechanism. One ratchet is naturally engaged by a spring and moves the wheelchair forward as you pump the handles. To move backwards, the user squeezes the brake on the handlebar which disengages one ratchet and engages the other, and the wheelchair moves backwards.