This media cannot be played on your device.

A wheelchair for the adventurous



Toyota Motor Corp, which last year kicked off a $1b robotics and artificial intelligence initiative, has announced plans to partner with Dean Kamen's Deka Research and Development to produce a new and improved version of Kamen's 1999 iBot, a four-wheel-drive motorised wheelchair capable of traversing rough terrain and even climbing stairs. Former licensee Johnson & Johnson produced the chair from 2003 until 2009; its discontinuation was decried by its fans — and by robotics enthusiasts, who envisioned using the iBot's versatile drive system as base for a highly capable domestic droid. (Citing restrictions related to US government certification, Johnson & Johnson never sold the platform to roboticists).

Upwardly mobile

The Toyota/Deka mobility machine's marquee talent is its ability to "stand" on two wheels, giving the user extra height to reach, say, kitchen cabinets or books on a shelf. The standing configuration also allows the user to feel less chair-bound by offering eye-level interaction with standing adults. To achieve the increased seat height, the machine shifts its articulated four-wheel chassis, lifting its front axle and balancing on its two rear tyres.

Segway segue

If the iBot's two-wheel self-balancing function seems familiar, that’s because the chair's Kamen-invented gyroscopic innards inspired another mobility device, that darling of mall cops and beach tourists everywhere, the Segway transporter. (During development, the iBot's internal nickname was "Fred" — as in Astaire; the original Segway's was — you guessed it — "Ginger".)

What will it cost?

Toyota and DEKA haven’t announced pricing for iBot 2.0, but the original version commanded a very steep $25,000. A typical motorised wheelchair, in comparison, costs about $3,500.

If you would like to comment on this or anything else you have seen on BBC Autos, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. And while you're at it, join the BBC Autos community on Instagram.

And if you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “If You Only Read 6 Things This Week”. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Autos, Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.