With their new wheelchair-accessible RV camping vehicle, BraunAbility and Winnebago have opened RV camping to a wider audience.
Traditionally, RVs – especially wheelchair-accessible RVs – have been expensive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars and large, thus making them unattainable for the majority of campers.
Winnebago’s new RV, The Roam, is specifically designed with accessibility in mind. Based on the Ram ProMaster van, The Roam is a smaller Class B RV. The new RV has sufficient room for wheelchair users to move around inside whilst being considerably more affordable.
Image Credit: Senix Corporation
Winnebago has collaborated with accessibility advocates, like BraunAbility, to design The Roam’s interior, using universal design as the guiding principle when developing the design.
The 2021 Ram ProMaster serves as the base for The Roam, measuring just under 20 feet long. Winnebago has ensured enough floor space to support a wheelchair and critical accessible features, such as the BraunAbility wheelchair lift under the sliding side door.
The Roam includes standard wheelchair tie-downs, an under-vehicle wheelchair lift, a powered sofa bed, a toilet and shower with grab handles, system controls and accessible lights.
The Roam can seat up to five people and sleep up to four with an optional pop-top that sleeps two more. Additional options include your own choice of color and a TV. If required, steering hand controls can be installed by a third party.
Once again, BraunAbility has selected Senix sensors for this new affordable wheelchair-accessible RV.
We plan to use the sensor over the sliding door to detect obstructions in the threshold area as part of FMVSS 403 compliance
Mike Anderson, Senior Product Manager
In the ceiling area, an ultrasonic detection device allows for the vehicle floor space to be used entirely.
Image Credit: Senix Corporation
If an object is detected within a selected area of the RV, the Senix ultrasonic will activate visual and audible warnings. These warnings will alert people who may be unaware that the wheelchair lift is not at the vehicle level or the vehicle door was open. To avoid injury, this system is designed to prevent unintended vehicle exits.
The profile and wider beam angle of the Senix sensor enabled the engineers to cover a large area inside the RV – larger than any other sensor available in the market.
The wide beam technology sensors, such as the high-performance ToughSonic ultrasonic distance and level sensors from Senix, can be custom configured using SenixVIEW software. This allows numerous user-configurable parameters to be set.
The BraunAbility sensors can be easily calibrated using SenixVIEW software, allowing various in-vehicle applications.
Senix’s wider beam ultrasonic sensors combined with the many user-configurable sensor parameters makes a perfect solution for BraunAbility’s object detection application, and detect objects within the area shown above. Image Credit: Senix Corporation
The new Ram ProMaster Winnebago Roam boasts numerous features. While it is more affordable and smaller than other large, expensive RVs, it is still larger than a usual passenger van.
Senix ultrasonic technology is exceptionally well suited as object detection or proximity sensor, offering greater design flexibility for BraunAbility. The sensor can be easily calibrated using SenixVIEW software, facilitating various in-vehicle applications.
Senix’s high standard of rugged and quality, long-life sensors also fit well with BraunAbility’s reputation for customer satisfaction and high quality. Senix is delighted to collaborate with BraunAbility and Winnebago, helping make the Winnebago and the new Ram ProMaster Winnebago Roam a success.
Image Credit: Senix Corporation
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Senix Corporation.
For more information on this source, please visit Senix Corporation.