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Toyota Winglet does a Segway
Techtree News Staff, Aug 03, 2008 1011 hrs ISTSegway, meet the Toyota Winglet: Toyota unveils a personal transportation device similar to the Segway
If you thought the Segway was useless for our Indian roads, wait till you check out Toyota's evolution on the personal transportation concept. Toyota recently unveiled its Segway-like personal mobility product called the Winglet. The Winglet is a self-balancing two-wheeled scooter -- and when we say scooter think back to the little two-wheelers we used to ride around our parent's feet as kids, not the grown-up version. It comes in different sizes that vary in height and placement of a handlebar for grip. Maneuvering is done by leaning your body in the direction you wish to go: lean forward to move straight ahead, leaning backward puts it in reverse; left and right to turn either side -- the device changes directions based on the user's shifting center of gravity. The Winglet is also pressure sensitive and you can build up speed or drop speed by adjusting the force you put into your lean.
Chiara Castaneda at ITWorld says that the only learning curve he needed to get over was how to get on and off the Winglet: "You have to press a button on the handle while simultaneously putting a foot on one of the foot pads that sit above the motor and wheels. Wait a couple of seconds and a light on the handle turns green. It's the signal to put your other foot up and stand upright on the machine... The only action that required a little more balancing skills was getting off it. Then, it is necessary to press the button on the handle and step down once the light turns red, which signals that the Winglet is turned off... Once you've surpassed the learning curve, it's literally all fun and games from there."
Crave brings us some specifications on the device: The Winglet comes in three sizes ranging in height from 18 inches to 3 feet 8 inches. All three models are about 18 inches wide and 10 inches long. The smallest version weighs a little less than 10 kilos. With a cruise speed of 6km/hr the device won't get you anywhere fast but it will make you look silly while you get there. It takes about an hour to charge.
Toyota plans to test the vehicle at airports and malls. You can check it out in action here.
Chiara Castaneda at ITWorld says that the only learning curve he needed to get over was how to get on and off the Winglet: "You have to press a button on the handle while simultaneously putting a foot on one of the foot pads that sit above the motor and wheels. Wait a couple of seconds and a light on the handle turns green. It's the signal to put your other foot up and stand upright on the machine... The only action that required a little more balancing skills was getting off it. Then, it is necessary to press the button on the handle and step down once the light turns red, which signals that the Winglet is turned off... Once you've surpassed the learning curve, it's literally all fun and games from there."
Crave brings us some specifications on the device: The Winglet comes in three sizes ranging in height from 18 inches to 3 feet 8 inches. All three models are about 18 inches wide and 10 inches long. The smallest version weighs a little less than 10 kilos. With a cruise speed of 6km/hr the device won't get you anywhere fast but it will make you look silly while you get there. It takes about an hour to charge.
Toyota plans to test the vehicle at airports and malls. You can check it out in action here.
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rexdude
,Bangalore, on Aug 03, 2008 09:56 PM
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