Toyota unveils 400,000 units of self-developed wheeled humanoid robot 'eley'

Toyota announced plans to deploy 400,000 units of its self-developed wheeled humanoid robot, 'ELEY,' in its factories. The robot, weighing 50 kilograms and powered by batteries or power lines, is designed to work alongside human workers. Toyota and its affiliated companies plan to invest 1 trillion yen annually starting in 2028 to modernize global factories. ELEY is capable of performing precise tasks such as picking up parts, transferring items between containers, and folding fabric. It can also learn and optimize its operations. Toyota's vice president, Nakajima Hiroki, emphasized that the robots are not meant to replace humans but to create a coexistence environment. ELEY, named 'Embodied Learning Robot for Enhanced Yield,' features dual mechanical arms with two fingers each, designed to match the average human body size. It demonstrated folding T-shirts with near-perfect accuracy after 1,500 practice sessions. Toyota aims to digitize the skills of its 18,000 experienced workers, enabling global knowledge sharing and reverse training for new employees. The company operates about 60 factories worldwide with 391,000 employees, 344,000 of whom are in the automotive sector. Toyota's vision includes a system where robots train humans, creating a cycle of skill transfer and enhancement.