Toyota’s new robot is a chair that walks, climbs and folds itself

The new robot aims to be an alternative to traditional wheelchairs and gives more autonomy to those with mobility problems, being able to climb stairs alone.

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Toyota presented an innovative concept in personal mobility: an autonomous four-legged chair called “Walk Me”. Designed for people with reduced mobilitythe prototype promises to overcome one of the biggest challenges in assistive technology and allow mobility in places where traditional wheelchairs cannot reach.

Unlike traditional chairs, Walk Me replaces the wheels with four robotic legs that can be bend, lift and adjust independently. Covered in a soft, fabric-like material that hides sensors and mechanical components, the legs move with an animal agility inspired by goats and crabs, allowing the chair to walk over stairs and uneven terrain with the same ease as it glides on flat floors.

According to reports from Teche Blog and Designboom, Walk Me’s biomimetic design allows you to climb stairswith the front legs pulling while the back legs push, maintaining stability through real-time sensors. Its LiDAR and radar systems continuously scan the surrounding environment, stopping automatically if obstacles are detected. Weight and balance sensors ensure users remain centered during movement, while the system self-corrects to prevent tipping.

User comfort and control were fundamental to Toyota design. The ergonomic seat adapts to the user’s body shape, with a curved backrest and side handles for manual steering. Users can also operate the chair through voice commands and saying phrases like “kitchen” or “faster” causes the on-board computer to plot a route or adjust travel speed. A display on the armrest also shows information such as battery level and distance travelled, explains .

Powered by a compact, rechargeable battery hidden behind the seat, Walk Me can run for a full day on a single charge. It is connected to a standard socket and, if any component overheats, the integrated sensors automatically turn off the system and alert the user.

One of the Walk Me’s most striking features is its foldable design. With the simple touch of a button, the robotic legs retract and fold, compacting the chair to its core. size of a hand luggage in less than 30 seconds.

Although still a prototype, Walk Me represents a major advance in inclusive robotics and human-centered engineering.