Design World managing editor and Mind Over Machine host Mike Santora, interviews Todd Roberts and Owen Kent from Berkeley‑founded medical technology company ATDev. In this video, the discussion focuses on a real-world accessibility problem: air travel for people who rely on heavy power wheelchairs that cannot fit into modern airliners and are often stowed in cargo, risking damage.
Owen, a daily power wheelchair user, needed a practical way to fly between Colorado and Pittsburgh, where ATDev is now based. Working with a local team in Colorado, they developed a mechanical transfer system that preserves Owen’s custom seating while allowing him to move from his power wheelchair to a manual wheelchair, then into a narrow aisle chair, and finally into the airplane seat, and back again at his destination. Throughout, they highlight that while AI can help design components, it cannot yet fully understand the lived experience and logistical challenges involved. Click the video below to watch the full interview.
