Miami airport touts autonomous power chairs

Miami-Dade County officials last week introduced "autonomous power chairs" that assist travelers with mobility issues at Miami International Airport.

Why it matters : The airport is the nation's first to receive self-driving chairs, designed to make travel between gates easier for those with injuries, those who have difficulty walking long distances and the elderly.

How it works: The 10 chairs, designed by Tokyo-based WHILL, are reserved for American Airlines passengers and work only in Concourses D and E.

• Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines Group that purchased the chairs, receives more than 2,900 wheelchair requests daily, per the Miami Herald.
• On average, 120 travelers per day use the autonomous chairs, an airport spokesperson said.

Between the lines: The airport has faced criticism for its disrepair, including broken elevators and escalators and the grounding of MIA's Skytrain.

• Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced upgrades in January, including $1.7 billion in maintenance and $7 billion for new projects.
• No public money has been used for the chairs so far, per the Herald .

Caveat: If travelers' bags are too large to fit, or if they have a support pet with them, they aren't able to ride, and will be pushed in a traditional wheelchair by an attendant.