Toyota has unveiled a fascinating prototype at the Japan Mobility Show 2025: the “Walk Me,” a robotic chair designed to provide unprecedented levels of mobility for individuals with limited physical capabilities. This innovative device, resembling a friendly crab, goes beyond the functionality of traditional wheelchairs by enabling users to navigate stairs, overcome obstacles, and even access vehicles with ease.
A Novel Solution for Limited Mobility
The core purpose of the Walk Me is to address the challenges faced by people with mobility impairments. Traditional wheelchairs often struggle with uneven terrain, stairs, and accessing raised surfaces. This prototype represents a bold step toward providing more independence and flexibility for individuals who might otherwise be confined.
Design and Functionality: Mimicking Nature
The robot chair’s distinctive appearance is a product of both form and function. Its four legs are fully articulated and foldable, allowing for remarkable maneuverability. The legs are wrapped in a soft, colorful material for protection and to provide a welcoming aesthetic.
Key Features:
- Autonomous Navigation: The legs function independently, bending, lifting, or folding to adapt to various environments. They can even fold neatly beneath the chair for storage and transport.
- Stair Climbing: The chair intelligently assesses stair height with its front legs before carefully pushing upward with the rear limbs.
- Vehicle Access: The ability to lift the user allows for easy access to cars and other elevated platforms.
- Advanced Sensors: LiDAR systems create detailed 3D maps, enabling the robot to avoid obstacles and traverse uneven surfaces safely.
- Collision Avoidance: Integrated radar detects potential collisions with people or objects, preventing accidental contact.
- Weight Stabilization: Sensors constantly monitor the user’s weight distribution, and the chair adjusts leg positioning and seat tilt to maintain stability and comfort.
User Control and Power
Beyond its autonomous capabilities, the Walk Me offers multiple control options:
- Manual Handles: Attached to the seat, these allow the user to directly guide the robot’s movement.
- Digital Interface: A more precise control system with dedicated buttons for locomotion.
- Voice Commands: Users can set destinations like “living room” or adjust speed using voice commands like “slower” or “faster.”
The unit is powered by a long-lasting battery integrated behind the seat, providing a full day of operation. Conveniently, the battery is charged overnight using a standard wall outlet.
Toyota’s engineers based the design on observations of how people naturally navigate stairs and adjust their balance while moving. The Walk Me showcases a promising future where technology actively supports greater accessibility and mobility.
