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The Fascination of Robotics When the Wheelchair Learns to Walk

From Sandro Kipar | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Toyota Deutschland GmbH
FAULHABER Drive Systems
Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

In our "Fascination Robotics" section, we present extraordinary robots once a month. Today: a walking chair.

Walk Me is designed to minimize everyday obstacles for people with disabilities.(Image: Toyota)
Walk Me is designed to minimize everyday obstacles for people with disabilities.
(Image: Toyota)

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo, Toyota not only presented cars, but also other forms of mobility, such as for the sick or children. The walking robot chair "Walk Me" in particular attracted media attention. Toyota emphasizes that this is not a finished product, but rather a design study. Nevertheless, the assistance system offers an interesting insight into how the company envisions mobility in the future.

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Walk Me moves with the help of four motorized legs that can be moved, lifted and turned individually. This means that the chair can not only walk over smooth surfaces, but also climb stairs, overcome thresholds and even negotiate uneven terrain. With the help of cameras, LiDAR and weight sensors, Walk Me is designed to recognize its surroundings, analyse surfaces and automatically adjust posture and stride length. The system also reacts fluently to changes and always maintains its balance. The battery is integrated behind the seat and should be able to supply the system with power for an entire day. When not in use, the robot can fold up its legs compactly, which should also make it easier to transport.

It can be operated in several ways: Users can control the robot chair using a joystick or voice command. Commands such as "into the living room" or "faster" or "slower" should work.

Among other things, Toyota is addressing the ageing society and the lack of accessibility in many cities and buildings. While conventional wheelchairs rely on ramps or elevators, this robotic chair could open up new avenues. Even though Walk Me is only a concept so far, important questions remain unanswered: How can standards be met, especially with regard to safety? How transportable is the robotic chair really? The many sensors, motors and battery will certainly weigh a lot. And, of course, the price is also a decisive factor in whether such an assistance system can establish itself on the market at all.

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