Meet the Self-Driving Toilet That Rolls Right to You

At a recent expo in Shanghai dedicated to elderly care and rehabilitation, a Chinese company named Yueban unveiled an innovative smart toilet that rolls right to you. The autonomous Xiaoban toilet is designed to enhance accessibility for individuals facing mobility challenges due to age, injuries, or disabilities. Priced at ¥28,999 yuan in China, which is about $4,300, its global release details are still under wraps.

The Xiaoban toilet employs technology akin to that found in high-end robot vacuums. It utilizes a range of sensors, including lidar and ultrasonic, to autonomously navigate through homes or care facilities, avoiding obstacles and stairs when summoned via remote or voice commands. While users may still need help getting onto the toilet, it eliminates the need to travel to a bathroom. Videos showcasing the Xiaoban in action suggest it manages nearly all other functions seamlessly.

Instead of traditional toilet paper, this smart toilet is equipped with a built-in bidet and a warm air drying feature for user cleanliness, along with a self-cleaning system that seals waste in an enclosed receptacle. Additionally, ultraviolet lights are employed to eliminate bacteria, helping to reduce odors and the stigma associated with using a toilet outside of a bathroom.

Once the user is done, the toilet has two potential destinations. If its charging dock is connected to plumbing, the Xiaoban will first return there to recharge, refill its reservoirs, and dispose of the pulverized waste to prevent clogs. If the dock lacks drainage, it will head to a bathroom where an extending arm will transfer the waste into a traditional toilet for flushing. While the Xiaoban doesn’t completely replace caregivers, it significantly eases their workload by removing the need to assist with bathroom trips and managing most of the cleanup afterward.