[Roo]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,396261,00.html

Toyota Unveils 'Winglet,' Segway-Like Personal Transporter
Friday, August 01, 2008

TOKYO — Toyota has developed a motorized stand-up-and-ride Segway lookalike designed to help people scoot around at malls and airports.

But the "Winglet," shown Friday in Tokyo, takes some getting used to. A demonstrator was visibly worried about its safety while accompanying a reporter who cautiously tried it on a short course in a Toyota showroom.

Toyota officials insist anyone can learn to ride it with some practice, including the elderly — its major target buyer.

Still, Toyota Motor Corp. has no plans yet to turn the Winglet into a commercial product. The Japanese automaker will start testing the two-wheeler this year at an airport and resort complex and next year at a shopping mall, all in Japan, to get user feedback. Overseas test plans are undecided.

The Winglet goes up to 3.7 mph, about the same speed as pedestrians, far slower than 12.5-mph Segway, which costs $5,000. The Winglet can go about 3 miles before needing to be recharged.

It is designed to stop easily with little pressure, pivot full-circle and go smoothly over bumps on roads. And it is designed to respond almost intuitively — moving forward when you lean to the front, and turning when you sway to the right or left, similar to skiing. One of three models shown comes with a protruding handle that can be grabbed and used like a steering wheel.

Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada, who zipped around on a Winglet as though he was on a skateboard, said the company is experimenting with new ways of mobility as part of a company strategy to spread robotics.

"We hope to create friendly robots that can exist side by side with people," Uchiyamada said. "Winglet will help everyone move around safely and stay active."

Winglet evolved out of Toyota's takeover of parts of Sony Corp.'s robotics division last year. Sony, reshaping itself under Chief Executive Howard Stringer, decided to focus on electronics and wipe out its Aibo pet robot and other peripheral businesses.

Toyota envisions a future in which Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it relays shopping information at stores. Or it may move on its own, Uchiyamada said. So it might go recharge its batteries itself, or come pick you up when you beckon it, toting your luggage.

AP

Aug. 1: Toyota Motor Corp.'s new motorized ride 'Winglet' during a press conference in Tokyo.

[ShimmaPuff]

The problem is, malls and airports are all those things are good for. All the pre-Segway hype made it sound like some major transportation development, which its not.

You could ride a razor scooter around malls and airports. Or a pre-razor scooter. That's all they are, is a scooter.

Now give me a personal transportation device that does stairs and curbs, and cracks in the sidewalk, and those dirt "burms" or whatever the hell they are called on the roads that don't have sidewalks - in other words, give me a Jetson-style Jetpak that flies, and I will sit up and take notice. But another expensive scooter. Pish-tosh.

Heelies are more of a transportation development than those stupid things. I bet lots of people will buy them, though!

[Jahpson]

oh snap!! I would get one.

[MissTiss]

Originally Posted by ShimmaPuff

The problem is, malls and airports are all those things are good for. All the pre-Segway hype made it sound like some major transportation development, which its not.

You could ride a razor scooter around malls and airports. Or a pre-razor scooter. That's all they are, is a scooter.

Now give me a personal transportation device that does stairs and curbs, and cracks in the sidewalk, and those dirt "burms" or whatever the hell they are called on the roads that don't have sidewalks - in other words, give me a Jetson-style Jetpak that flies, and I will sit up and take notice. But another expensive scooter. Pish-tosh.

Heelies are more of a transportation development than those stupid things. I bet lots of people will buy them, though!

Hear, Hear, Shimma!
God, I love your posts. Jetson Style Jetpak...

How 'bout the Rocketeer?

[ayla]

Woah.. it's really cute !

But it kind of makes me think of Wall-E and what happens when people aren't active.. :\

[jburgh]

My husband has a friend that owns a Segway. He rides it to work...8.2 miles, down the sidewalks into downtown Seattle. It takes him the same amount of time as the bus. Then he plugs it in at work. I actually didn't believe him, until I saw his friend one day, zipping off to work.

[HauteMama]

Originally Posted by ShimmaPuff

The problem is, malls and airports are all those things are good for. All the pre-Segway hype made it sound like some major transportation development, which its not.

You could ride a razor scooter around malls and airports. Or a pre-razor scooter. That's all they are, is a scooter.

Now give me a personal transportation device that does stairs and curbs, and cracks in the sidewalk, and those dirt "burms" or whatever the hell they are called on the roads that don't have sidewalks - in other words, give me a Jetson-style Jetpak that flies, and I will sit up and take notice. But another expensive scooter. Pish-tosh.

Heelies are more of a transportation development than those stupid things. I bet lots of people will buy them, though!

Very true. For people with limited mobility, these offer almost no more options than a wheelchair because they cannot do stairs or escalators or significant changes in terrain. Because they only go as fast as a pedestrian, they aren't very helpful for most people with commuting, either. Additionally, while I understand mobility issues, many people who cannot easily walk from place to place also have issues with standing for long periods of time - hip issues, knee issues, edema and other things make standing as painful or damaging as walking. I just don't see any widespread appeal for these.

[LV-PRADAfanatic]

il iek the look but wonder how it respond...guess wont know till i try it

[Liberté]

I agree with shimma puff. It's not that revolutionary. Unless they could come up with something that wraps into something smaller than a pari of roller skates, preferably the size of a blackberry, it wont be revolutonary.

[Jahpson]

Originally Posted by jburgh

My husband has a friend that owns a Segway. He rides it to work...8.2 miles, down the sidewalks into downtown Seattle. It takes him the same amount of time as the bus. Then he plugs it in at work. I actually didn't believe him, until I saw his friend one day, zipping off to work.

get out of here!! are you serious? I would pay to see him riding along the freeway. LMAO

[louis loves fendi 818]

Originally Posted by ayla

Woah.. it's really cute !

But it kind of makes me think of Wall-E and what happens when people aren't active.. :\

ROFL. I loved that movie! EEEEEVVVVVVEEEEE! LOL

[lvuittonaddict]

Originally Posted by jburgh

My husband has a friend that owns a Segway. He rides it to work...8.2 miles, down the sidewalks into downtown Seattle. It takes him the same amount of time as the bus. Then he plugs it in at work. I actually didn't believe him, until I saw his friend one day, zipping off to work.

that is hilarious. loves it

[jburgh]

Originally Posted by Jahpson

get out of here!! are you serious? I would pay to see him riding along the freeway. LMAO

I am 100% serious, Jahpson. He rides down the sidewalk of a six lane street. It is funny because he wears a suit, too!

[brigadeiro]

Hehe...cool! (re: friend riding it to work)

[leothelnss]

If it's for riding to work, school etc... That is fine by me.
However, if I saw someone using one of these things in a mall, I'd probably be really pissed. How lazy would you have to be? Not to mention you'd probably have to push people out of your way not to run them over if you were on one of these things. If someone had a little horn and honked at me while I'm walking in the mall, they'd have another thing coming.
These should stay on sidewalks, outside...
I think it's funny how they say it could help people "stay active".