Toyota has unveiled something that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie: a four-legged robotic chair called Walk Me that can walk, climb, and even fold itself into a compact package. Introduced at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the concept is Toyota’s bold reimagining of assistive mobility, built for people who need help getting around in places where traditional wheelchairs simply cannot go.
According to Designboom, Walk Me replaces wheels with four intelligent, motorized limbs inspired by animal movement. Each robotic leg bends, lifts, and balances independently, mimicking the sure-footed stride of mountain goats or the sideways crawl of crabs. The result is a device that can move smoothly across gravel, up staircases, and over uneven surfaces while keeping its passenger stable and secure.
Each leg is wrapped in a soft, tactile material to conceal the mechanical parts underneath, giving the robot a more human-friendly appearance. Sensors and LiDAR continuously scan the surroundings to detect stairs, edges, or obstacles like toys or carpet folds. When climbing, the front legs probe the step first, then pull the body upward as the rear legs push. Weight and collision sensors ensure that the user stays balanced while the system automatically stops if something crosses its path.
Inside, the seat molds itself to the user’s body, with a curved backrest that supports posture and small side handles for manual control. These handles twist to steer and include buttons for basic directional input. But Toyota did not stop at physical control; users can also operate Walk Me with simple voice commands like “go to kitchen” or “speed up.” The chair’s onboard computer maps routes, adjusts stride speed, and displays battery life and travel stats on a small armrest screen.
As noted by TechEBlog, the entire system runs on a compact battery tucked neatly behind the seat, enough to last a full day. It recharges through a standard wall outlet, and built-in thermal sensors automatically shut down the chair if any joints overheat.
Perhaps its most impressive feature is how it packs itself up. With a single button, Walk Me’s legs fold telescopically, the knees bend, and the body compacts to the size of a carry-on suitcase in under thirty seconds. It can then be stored in a car trunk or beside furniture, and when powered back on, it unfolds, rebalances, and gets moving again.
Toyota says Walk Me is designed for real-world use, from navigating Japan’s narrow hallways and elevated homes to handling outdoor paths and steps. Though still in prototype form, the concept highlights Toyota’s growing focus on robotics and human-centered design.
By replacing wheels with lifelike motion, Toyota’s Walk Me does not just redefine assistive mobility. It redefines independence, and maybe one day, what it means to take a walk.