---
title: "New Exoskeleton Transforms Into Motorized Scooter"
description: "Japanese Panasonic subsidiary Atoun has come up with a futuristic exoskeleton that can transform itself into a powered buggy."
date: "2021-09-29"
modified: "2021-09-29"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/exoskeleton-transforms-motorized-scooter"
categories:
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "electric scooters"
  - "exoskeletons"
  - "the digest"
---

# New Exoskeleton Transforms Into Motorized Scooter

![Japanese Panasonic subsidiary Atoun has come up with a futuristic exoskeleton that can transform itself into a powered buggy.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/exoskeleton-transforms-motorized-scooter.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Atoun\</em\>*

## Autobots Roll Out

Japanese Panasonic subsidiary Atoun has come up with a [futuristic exoskeleton](<https://atoun.co.jp/en/prototypes/koma/>) that can transform itself into a powered buggy.

The suit, dubbed the Koma 1.5, is designed to allow its wearer to lift heavy items while also rolling across relatively smooth terrain, like a factory or warehouse floor — and to do it in style, seemingly.

## Doin' Buggy

In Buggy Mode, the suit's wearer can step onto two little platforms and ride away, kind of like a two-legged, electric scooter.

In "Two-Legged Mode," in contrast, the wearer can use the suit to walk up and down steps, as seen in a video.

https://youtu.be/rvogLHC94xU

According to [an official product page](<https://atoun.co.jp/en/prototypes/koma/>), the robotic exoskeleton can also automatically detect and avoid obstacles.

It looks like a somewhat clunky approach to walking up and down steps — the video doesn't exactly make the transition from walking to rolling look smooth. But given the largely smooth surfaces warehouse workers have to walk across, putting them on wheels does make sense.

It's unclear if Atoun is planning to bring the suit into production — it's currently listed as "under development" on its website. But it's a fun twist on the powered exoskeleton concept that's bound to bring some much-needed excitement to working in a factory or warehouse.

**READ MORE:** [Koma 1.5 can be either a buggy or a powered exoskeleton, as required](<https://newatlas.com/robotics/atoun-koma-15-buggy-exoskeleton/>) \[*Atlas*\]

**More on exoskeletons:** *[MIT Establishes New Initiative to Meld Humans and Machines](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/mit-initiative-meld-humans-machines>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)