Apple Vision Pro’s eye-tracking system can now do more than point at menus. Apple says the headset can operate a power wheelchair directly, through a feature called Wheelchair Control that connects to two named alternative drive systems, Tolt and LUCI, over Bluetooth or a wired connection.
Apple announced Wheelchair Control on May 19, 2026, inside a wider accessibility release that touched several of its operating systems. The feature is described as coming later in 2026, with a U.S. launch, and Apple has not published a narrower date.
Key facts
| Detail | What Apple has published |
|---|---|
| Feature | Wheelchair Control |
| Input | Vision Pro eye tracking |
| Compatible drive systems | Tolt, LUCI |
| Connection | Bluetooth or wired |
| Announced | May 19, 2026, Apple Newsroom accessibility release |
| Availability | Later in 2026, U.S. launch |
What Apple says the feature does
Apple’s release states that Wheelchair Control lets a person operate a power wheelchair using the eye tracking already built into Vision Pro, connecting through Tolt or LUCI. Apple has not described how steering, speed or stopping map to eye movement, and it has not published a technical walkthrough that would fill in those details.
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Wheelchair Control was one of several items in Apple’s May 19 accessibility release, most of which affect iPhone, iPad and Mac. It is also one of only two Vision Pro items to appear on Apple’s newsroom page in all of 2026, a publishing pattern The Mac Observer has covered separately.
Tolt and LUCI are the only two systems Apple names
Tolt and LUCI are the only power wheelchair drive systems Apple lists as compatible with Wheelchair Control. Apple’s release does not describe either system beyond identifying them as alternative drive systems, and it does not say whether support for other systems is planned.
What is published, and what is not
| Published | Not published |
|---|---|
| Eye tracking as the input method | A date narrower than “later in 2026” |
| Tolt and LUCI as compatible drive systems | A price for the feature |
| Bluetooth or wired connection options | Whether every Vision Pro model supports it, or only the current M5 version |
| A United States launch | Any country beyond the United States |
What Apple’s partners said
Apple’s release quotes Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS: “The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me. With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”
It also quotes Blair Casey, CEO of Team Gleason: “Leveraging Apple Vision Pro’s eye-tracking capabilities in this way is a huge step forward. Team Gleason is proud to support this initiative and excited to see the benefits it can bring to people who use power wheelchairs.” Both quotes are Apple’s own, published in its May 19 release. The Mac Observer is reporting them as written, not assessing the feature on behalf of any individual who might use it.
What Apple has not said
Apple has not set a date for Wheelchair Control beyond “later in 2026,” has not priced it, and has not said whether it works with drive systems other than Tolt and LUCI. It has not stated a visionOS version requirement, has not said whether availability outside the United States is planned, and its release contains no claim of medical benefit or clinical approval for any individual. Apple’s own announcement does not offer guidance on whether any specific person should use the feature, and neither does this article.
As of September 12, 2026, Apple’s May 19 newsroom post remains the only public description of Wheelchair Control. It arrives during a week when most of Apple’s attention sits with iPhone 18 Pro, now taking pre-orders, AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12, all covered in Apple’s September 9 event recap, and iOS 27, arriving Monday, September 14. Vision Pro runs visionOS, a separate operating system, and Apple has not said when it will next update the public on Wheelchair Control’s progress toward launch.
