“`html
(Image credit: Toyota/Japan Mobility Show 2025)ShareShare by:
- Copy link
- X
Share this article 2Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter
A robotic chair displayed at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 is capable of traversing complex surroundings utilizing its four jointed legs.
Although the chair remains a prototype, its objective is to assist individuals with diminished mobility in ascending stairways or overcoming other impediments that would be insurmountable for conventional wheelchairs. It also boasts the functionality to elevate the user, facilitating entry into automobiles and other raised platforms or vehicles.
You may like
-
New ‘Transformer’ humanoid robot can launch a shapeshifting drone off its back — watch it in action
-
Watch: Chinese company’s new humanoid robot moves so smoothly, they had to cut it open to prove a person wasn’t hiding inside
-
Watch new humanoid robot pirouette, pose and pull off deft karate moves with eerily lifelike movement
Toyota’s “Walk Me” Wheelchair Walks on Legs and Climbs Stairs – The Future of Mobility Is Here – YouTube
Watch On
Each leg operates entirely on its own, bending, lifting, or retracting to enhance its ability to maneuver. When not being utilized, the legs can also be neatly tucked away beneath the robot, making it convenient to stow in a car or carry as luggage. The system also possesses the ability to unfold and self-stabilize without any operator assistance.
Portrayed as an “independent wheelchair,” the device is fitted with an array of functionalities enabling it to navigate demanding landscapes by replicating the locomotion of quadrupedal animals like crabs. Among these are LiDAR systems, which employ laser illumination to gauge distances and produce exceedingly accurate, intricate three-dimensional models of objects and locales, empowering the robot to circumvent obstacles or adjust to irregular terrains.
During stair climbing, the apparatus initially assesses the step height utilizing its frontal legs prior to propelling itself upward utilizing its rear limbs. Collision detection radars are also incorporated to avert interaction with individuals or objects.
Furthermore, the Walk Me incorporates weight-sensing mechanisms to guarantee the occupant maintains a steady, seated position. Toyota’s engineers scrutinized the typical methods employed by individuals to ascend steps, as well as their weight distribution patterns when navigating around or over obstructions. Should the robot identify a lack of equilibrium, it can modify both its legs and the inclination of the seating itself to assure the occupant’s respite and protection.
There are also numerous manual command possibilities. Handles are affixed to the seat, facilitating directional control of the robot by the user. Contrarily, a virtual interface furnishes designated buttons to administer movement precisely. The Walk Me will likewise acknowledge voice commands that encompass preset destinations, like “living room,” and pace directives, such as “slower” or “faster.”
RELATED STORIES
—Robots receive major intelligence boost thanks to Google DeepMind’s ‘thinking AI’ — a pair of models that help machines understand the world
—’Jetsons’ robot finally arrives: Sweater-wearing Neo Gamma android helps with household chores
—Watch new humanoid robot pirouette, pose and pull off deft karate moves with eerily lifelike movement
A battery, discreetly stowed behind the seat, serves as the unit’s energy source, allowing it to operate for an entire day. Replenishing the battery is achieved by connecting it to a commonplace electrical outlet during the night.
The Walk Me was part of a wider selection of offerings exhibited by Toyota at the Tokyo Mobility Show, which also featured a self-governing, driverless vehicle intended for juveniles, alongside a “Land Cruiser of wheelchairs” characterized by exceptionally resilient, all-terrain tires in conjunction with a hard-wearing frame. As per Top Gear, the wheelchair drew inspiration from Toyota’s chairman Akio Toyoda who, at the age of 69, seeks the aptitude to “drift, perform donuts, and venture off-road during his retirement years.”
Alan BradleyFreelance contributor
Alan is a freelance tech and entertainment journalist focusing on computers, laptops, and video games. He has previously contributed to websites such as PC Gamer, GamesRadar, and Rolling Stone. Should you require guidance on technological matters, or assistance in uncovering premier tech discounts, Alan is your go-to individual.
Show More Comments
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
LogoutRead more
New ‘Transformer’ humanoid robot can launch a shapeshifting drone off its back — watch it in action
Watch: Chinese company’s new humanoid robot moves so smoothly, they had to cut it open to prove a person wasn’t hiding inside
Scientists create ultrapowerful, squishy robotic ‘eye’ that focuses automatically and doesn’t need a power source
Humanoid robots could lift 4,000 times their own weight thanks to breakthrough ‘artificial muscle’
Scientists are developing a ‘self-driving’ device that helps patients recover from heart attacks
Watch four flying cars go toe-to-toe in new ‘Formula One of the skies’
Latest in Robotics
New ‘Transformer’ humanoid robot can launch a shapeshifting drone off its back — watch it in action
Watch: Chinese company’s new humanoid robot moves so smoothly, they had to cut it open to prove a person wasn’t hiding inside
Humanoid robots could lift 4,000 times their own weight thanks to breakthrough ‘artificial muscle’
Scientists create ultrapowerful, squishy robotic ‘eye’ that focuses automatically and doesn’t need a power source