A two-legged robot being developed by Japanese scientists could one day carry the elderly and handicapped up stairs or inclines.

Standing
1.28 metres (4 ft), the robot is essentially a seat that walks on two
mechanical legs. A person hops on the seat and controls its movements
using two joysticks.

The researchers say it could take another
five years before the robot can be used by the elderly. At present, the
device is slow and needs modifications to carry heavy loads.

"We
began this research so as to provide a new level of mobility to the
elderly and the handicapped," Atsuo Takanishi, a professor who
specializes in mechanical engineering at Waseda University in Tokyo,
told a news conference on Wednesday.

Reuters.com