Toyota Motor North America has entered an agreement with DEKA Research and Development to help DEKA continue its development and launch of the next generation iBOT motorized wheelchair.
The iBOT motorized wheelchair is designed to help users rise from a seated position to approximately 6 feet in height. It features two sets of powered wheels that enable the wheelchair to move through a wide variety of terrain as well as “walk” up and down stairs, according to a media release from Toyota Motor North America.
The agreement was announced during the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s 70th Annual Convention.
Under the terms of the agreement, Toyota will license balancing technologies held by DEKA and its affiliate for medical rehabilitative therapy and potentially other purposes, per the release.
“Our company is very focused on mobility solutions for all people,” says Osamu “Simon” Nagata, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Toyota Motor North America, in the release. “We realize that it is important to help older adults and people with special needs live well and continue to contribute their talents and experience to the world.”
“Toyota and DEKA share the same vision of making mobility available to people of every kind of ability,” states DEKA founder Dean Kamen, in the release. “We are excited about this new relationship and excited about what it means for making that dream a reality.”
[Source: Toyota Motor North America, Business Wire]
