Like a Segway you can’t ride, Murata’s new power-assisted, self-balancing walker provides a stable support for senior citizens, allowing them to stay mobile while not tiring as quickly.
Using the balancing technology developed for the company’s promotional robots, the walking aid uses gyro sensors to detect how the user’s body is tilted, automatically and pre-emptively adjusting itself to provide extra support when there’s a risk of them falling. And because it’s power assisted, the walker could make it easier for those with limited mobility, or physical disabilities, to get around on their own. Like with their adorable performing bots, Murata has no current timeline for a commercial release of the walker. Instead, they’re currently focused on public demos to gauge consumer interest and garner feedback on other possible applications for the technology. [DigInfo]