Dean Kamen, the man who brought us the Segway, has begun a new collaboration with Toyota to bring back another of his most exciting transportation devices: the iBot.
The iBot debuted back in the late 1990s as an innovative multi-wheeled cart that gave wheelchair-bound users the ability to use steep stairs, raise their chair to standing height, and even traverse rough, outdoor terrain. However, at a cost of around $25,000 per unit, the device simply didn't find enough users to take it up, and so it was officially discontinued in 2009.
Now, in an announcement posted on its website on Saturday, Toyota has committed to working with Kamen's Deka Research to launch the next-generation version of the iBot.
Kamen even appears in a new video where he uses the wheelchair, detailing the vision and reasoning behind bringing the device back to market.
“Our company has been focused on mobility solutions for all people,” said Osamu “Simon” Nagata, chief executive officer at Toyota Motor North America, in a statement on Toyota’s website. “We understand that it is important to help older adults and people with disabilities live well and continue to contribute their talents and expertise to our world.”.
Toyota will also use Deka's balancing technology to develop other therapeutic solutions for medical rehabilitation.
No price or release date has been announced for the iBot yet, but given the history of the former, potential users can at least hope for a lower price in the future.
