Toyota's Dedication to "Accessibility in Transportation" Unveiled through New Technological Advancements
Toyota, a global leader in automotive manufacturing, is making significant strides in mobility solutions, aiming to cater to a wide range of needs. The company's commitment to innovation is evident in its latest offerings, the e-Palette and the JUU electric wheelchair.
The e-Palette: A Mobile Hub for All
The e-Palette, an icon of Toyota's transformation into a mobility company, was showcased at a recent workshop. This versatile vehicle can be modified to serve as a convenience store, café, mobile delivery lockers, or an apparel shop, demonstrating Toyota's commitment to community and accessibility. Moreover, Toyota aims to make the devices available for all types of vehicles, including ships and airplanes, further expanding its reach. Two versions of the e-Palette were displayed: one with a driver's seat and another for autonomous driving, suggesting a future where mobility solutions could be more autonomous.
The e-Palette is designed to serve people in mountainous and sparsely populated regions, or those who have difficulty traveling. The autonomous driving technology is being developed by Toyota, Woven by Toyota, and Denso, ensuring a seamless and safe driving experience. Toyota will initially offer the piloted e-Palette publicly in the first half of the 2020s.
The JUU Electric Wheelchair: Overcoming Challenges
The JUU electric wheelchair, on the other hand, is a testament to Toyota's dedication to wheelchair mobility. This innovative device can negotiate steps up to 16 cm tall while seated, allowing users to navigate their environment with greater independence.
The JUU's unique design includes a "tail" that drops down from behind the backrest to support the wheelchair when climbing stairs, enabling users to ascend unassisted. The device secures the anchor bar at the press of a button once the wheelchair is in position, ensuring a quick and easy mobility experience.
Safety is a top priority for the JUU. It uses electric power steering motors typically found in cars to improve safety, and it boasts two drive systems, allowing it to continue functioning if one fails. Toyota's one-touch device also offers wheelchair users greater freedom of mobility, securing the wheelchair in just two seconds.
Toyota's guiding principle as a mobility company is "Mobility for all." The company's ongoing commitment to this principle is evident in the development of the JUU, which is designed to provide a more user-friendly mobility experience. In the future, we may see further advancements in autonomous or semi-autonomous features for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, enhancing user independence and safety.
[1]: Source: Toyota's press release from October 2017 [3]: Source: Toyota's website [4]: Source: Woven City's official website [5]: Source: BraunAbility's official website
- Toyota, in its pursuit to expand mobility solutions, is developing the e-Palette, a versatile vehicle that can transform into various service formats, such as a convenience store or café, and may also be utilized in transportation beyond land, like ships and airplanes, demonstrating its ambition to cater to a vast array of needs in the industry, finance, and transportation sectors.
- Recognizing the need for improved wheelchair mobility, Toyota has introduced the JUU electric wheelchair, which boasts innovative features like the ability to traverse steps and a user-friendly one-touch secure mechanism, showcasing the company's commitment in the technology sector to provide accessible solutions that empower people in their day-to-day lives.
