Tokyo

Trials have begun at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda to introduce next-generation self-driving electric wheelchairs for helping elderly and other people move more easily to boarding gates after checking in.

Japan Airlines aims to start using self-driving wheelchairs as early as in the year starting next April. Currently, JAL offers manual wheelchairs at airports across the country. Around 100 JAL customers a day use wheelchairs at Haneda.

The self-driving wheelchairs JAL aims to introduce are designed to allow users to move without any escort. The wheelchairs automatically return to their home positions after use, making it unnecessary for workers to go and collect them.

A trial was conducted at Haneda Airport on Nov. 2-3 to see whether users could operate a self-driving wheelchair without hitting other people or obstacles and whether the wheelchairs would return to their original positions after use.

JAL plans to carry out a second trial early next year to confirm what needs to be done for the company to introduce self-driving wheelchairs.

The wheelchairs used in the trial were developed by Whill Inc., a startup based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.

Whill plans to conduct similar trials overseas by year-end, including at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in the United States and Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.

“We hope our products will be a key means for transportation mobility within one kilometer indoors and outdoors,” said Satoshi Sugie, founder and chief executive officer of Whill.

Jiji Press