autonomous wheelchair with foldable tentacle legs can climb stairs and sit on the floor

Toyota unveils autonomous wheelchair with foldable legs

During Japan Mobility Show 2025, Toyota reveals ‘walk me,’ a concept autonomous wheelchair with foldable tentacle legs that can climb stairs and sit on the floor. On view at the event between October 30th and November 9th, the assistive device helps people with reduced mobility to move around places where traditional wheelchairs aren’t able to, including walking up and down between floors and lifting the users to their cars. Toyota’s autonomous wheelchair replaces the traditional wheels with four robotic and foldable legs that move like animal limbs. 

Each leg can lift, bend, and adjust its position on its own, and this lets the device move across steps or rough ground. The seat has a supportive frame that holds the user in a safe and upright position, and the backrest curves to follow the shape of the user’s back. The user asks the device to move around using the small side handles or a control interface that can include buttons. The foldable legs of Toyota’s concept autonomous wheelchair also come with soft-looking outer covers to protect the inside parts as well as the sensors.

all images courtesy of Toyota

An Assistive device at japan mobility show 2025

The project was presented by Toyota during Japan Mobility Show 2025 as part of the company’s research into personal mobility solutions. It is intended for daily use by people who have limited mobility but still need to move between levels or uneven terrains. The team has studied how users transfer weight, how steps are climbed, and how the device can stay secure on different surfaces for their autonomous wheelchair with foldable legs.

Besides movement, the chair includes folding functions. The legs can retract into a compact shape for storage or transport, allowing the device to fit into cars or small indoor spaces. When activated again, the legs extend automatically, and the system stabilizes itself before movement begins. The concept is still a prototype revealed at the event, and Toyota has yet to announce its commercial production. It shows, though, how future assistive devices could help people move between surfaces, especially with an autonomous wheelchair and its foldable legs.

the concept assistive device ‘walk me’ can climb stairs on its own

the concept device can also lift the users to their cars

the legs can fold and move individually

Toyota’s autonomous wheelchair with foldable legs can even sit or kneel on the floor

the seat has a supportive frame that holds the user in a safe and upright position

project info:

name: walk me

company: Toyota | @toyota_jp

event: Japan Mobility Show 2025 | @jama_jpn

dates: October 30th to November 9th, 2025

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