The Chinese technology company Yueban has unveiled a self-driving smart toilet named Xiaoban that can follow users around the house and be summoned on demand. Designed to improve accessibility for people with limited mobility, the autonomous toilet was showcased at an exhibition in Shanghai focused on elderly care, assistive technology and rehabilitation medicine.
How Xiaoban Works
Unlike conventional toilets, Xiaoban can travel independently to a user when summoned, potentially reducing the need for individuals with mobility difficulties to make their way to a bathroom. According to Chinese technology news outlet IT Home, the Xiaoban is expected to retail in China for 28,999 yuan (approximately £3,200), though international availability has not been confirmed.
The wandering commode uses technology similar to that found in advanced robotic vacuum cleaners. A combination of sensors, including lidar and ultrasonic systems, enables it to navigate homes and care facilities autonomously, avoiding obstacles and stairs while travelling to a user in response to voice commands or a remote control.
Sanitation and Waste Management
Instead of relying on toilet paper, the system incorporates a built-in bidet and warm-air drying function. It also features a self-cleaning mechanism that seals waste inside an enclosed container. Ultraviolet sterilisation technology is used to kill bacteria, helping to reduce odours and potentially making users feel more comfortable using the toilet outside a conventional bathroom setting.
Once a user has finished, the Xiaoban can travel to one of two locations. If its charging station is connected to plumbing and drainage systems, the toilet returns there to recharge, refill its reservoirs and dispose of waste after it has been macerated to prevent blockages. If no drainage connection is available at the charging station, the unit instead travels to a bathroom, where an extending robotic arm transfers the waste into a standard toilet for flushing.
