-- A total of 1.01 million visitors attended the Japan Mobility Show 2025, and many guests made their way to a bustling Yamaha Motor booth to see world premiere models like the MOTOROiD Λ and TRICERA proto. But at the same time, while they did not take a place in the spotlight, various Yamaha Motor technologies were quietly supporting the booth's operations throughout the event. For this issue, we want to introduce the PAXIS, an electrically power-assisted cargo unit.
A 20-Year Track Record at Yamaha Motor's Distribution Warehouses
PAXIS was on the scene at the Japan Mobility Show, moving performers onto the stage, quietly supporting the booth's festivities throughout the 12-day event.
The Japan Mobility Show 2025 welcomed a total of 1.01 million visitors before concluding on November 9. The Yamaha Motor booth was crowded with guests throughout the exhibition, and the main show on the stage was such a hit that it even drew calls for an encore-a rarity for a trade show. The photo above of wind instrument girl group MOS shows a glimpse of what booth visitors got to enjoy.
The reason the stagehand on the right was able to pull the cart with MOS performing on it with just one hand was thanks to PAXIS, an electrically power-assisted cargo unit. PAXIS is a tool for aiding transport duties and utilizes the drive unit from our JW Series of electric wheelchairs. It helps reduce physical workload for moving various heavy items and is a solution that has been at work in our logistics warehouses for some 20 years. Today, more than 50 units are in use, including in our factories.
PAXIS will be on display at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX 2025) as a smart solution for labor challenges in the transport and logistics space.
"If we could bring this product to transport worksites across Japan, it's sure to put a smile on the face of everyone who uses it." This was the vision shared by the engineers at Yamaha Motor's Machinery R&D Division handling development, the Robotics Business Unit actively advocating "total factory optimization," and the JW Wheelchairs Division looking to find more applications for its drive units. They are all working together as one "all-Yamaha" team to get this new business rolling, and as part of that effort, Yamaha Motor plans to exhibit PAXIS at the 2025 International Robot Exhibition set to open on December 3.
Further Uses Possible through Combinations with Other Solutions
A key feature is that a single PAXIS unit can be used to help either push or pull as needed.
The greatest asset of PAXIS is undoubtedly its highly reliable drive unit. "It's got a blend of toughness and finesse. It has a robust build resulting from decades of experience powering our electric wheelchairs; it's equally capable indoors or outdoors; and the control program focuses on being friendly and easy to use," proudly explains development lead KAJIWARA, Mikio from the Machinery R&D Division.
Elsewhere, HOSHI, Kentaro from the Robotics Business Unit is working on the business model for PAXIS. "While it can obviously be used on its own, if combined with industrial robots, AGVs, networking tech, and so on, PAXIS also has the potential to evolve further, like being capable of remote operation or monitoring," he says. "Looking toward real-world deployment, we're also considering plans for limited-time trial use and the like to make full-on adoption easier."
Although the primary focus for power-assist cargo like PAXIS is in logistics warehouses and factories where they can fulfill an already emerging need, the possibilities may still yet grow. "The other day, we tried using it at a chestnut farm in a mountainous area," recalls Hoshi. "The farmer, a senior, used it to carry fertilizer up a narrow, sloped path and eagerly told us how much of a help it would be to have. Wherever things need to be transported, whether it's in agriculture, outdoor infrastructure work, or even at amusement facilities, I'm sure there's a need we can answer."
PAXIS was designed to help those moving goods and items, and we hope visitors to next month's International Robot Exhibition next month will come see its capabilities in person.
Japan Mobility Show Microsite - Electric Assisted Cargo
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/showroom/event/japan-mobilityshow-2025/electric-assisted-cart/
Release ID: 89176947
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