Self-Driving 'Wheelchairs' Target Younger Users: Smart Wheelchair Makers Bet on Embodied AI and Short-Distance Travel

Smart wheelchair makers are redefining their products as 'travel robots' or home entry points for embodied AI, seeking to attract younger users with 'light autonomous driving.' Strutt's EV1 carries 20 sensors—2 LiDARs, 10 ToF sensors, 6 ultrasonic radars, and 2 cameras—enabling 360° environmental perception and 3D mapping; Xcan Mate X from Xingcan Intelligence uses a LiDAR, ultrasonic radar, and camera setup. By 2026, the sector has seen at least 9 publicly disclosed funding rounds, but buyers remain concentrated among people aged 30-50 purchasing for their parents.