A buggy board is a device that attaches to the rear of a pushchair to allow an older toddler to hitch a ride. Pushchairs, especially double pushchairs with two children and a full load of shopping, are quite heavy for one petite wife to push. I propose a buggy board carrying not a child, but a battery pack and motor.

Safety would of course be a high priority. A dead man's handle would stop the pushchair if the parent/carer released it, furthermore, wheel sensors would limit the motor to a lower power output than required to maintain the current speed. Hence the pushchair is assisted, but still requires pushing, so there is no opportunity for it to run away (e.g. a child presses the "go" switch and is hauled off down the street, not daring to let go).
-- david_scothern, Feb 08 2008

Make it a four wheel drive and you could make your way home with the shopping and kids cross country.
-- skinflaps, Feb 08 2008


I didn't think any purpose was required to justify four-wheel-drive these days?
-- david_scothern, Feb 08 2008


I get your idea, but don't buggy boards (I didn't know that was the name before now) have casters? Castors would be tough to power. Are you really just friction driving the rear wheels? and leaving the castors alone?
-- MisterQED, Feb 08 2008


True, you can't swing a cat without hitting an all-wheel drive these days.

I like the Idea of supplemental power to the pushcart, and sensors and safety. If you have an extra toddler, though, s/he should be with you doing the work -- so maybe you should include a device that when pushed recharges its batteries.
-- reensure, Feb 08 2008


I've seen those. I've also seen a similar device which is used to push large numbers of supermarket trolleys in one go, while the worker steers the front trolley. I think this technology would be ideally suited to assisting pushchairs, but I've not yet found an example out there.
-- david_scothern, Feb 09 2008


Maybe I don't get out much but I have never heard of a pushchair. Is it like a stroller?
-- 37PiecesOf Flair, Feb 09 2008


No, but a stroller is like a pushchair.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 09 2008


//you can't swing a cat without hitting an all-wheel drive these days// I dunno [reensure], some cats are pretty good at trying to claw back up your arm as you swing 'em.
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Feb 10 2008


Engineer monster truck wheels to these things and go shopping.
-- skinflaps, Feb 11 2008



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