Prepare to step aside Segway, you had your chance to revolutionize personal transportation. Introducing the Toyota Winglet. Still under development, Winglet's body has a 10.4 x 18-inch footprint and stands 1.5-, 2.2-, or 3.7-feet tall (depending upon the S, M, or L model chosen) and features an electric motor capable of a max 6km/h cruising speed for up to 10km a jaunt (only 5km for the S model). Like the Segway, the user controls the Winglet by shifting his weight to move the transporter forward and back or to make tight turns. Winglet will begin consumer testing at the Central Japan International Airport near Nagoya and Laguna Gamagori resort this Autumn with further testing in more crowded environments planned for 2009. It's planned to hit a production stride in 2010. Hey Toyota, here's a hint: you'd better start lobbying for sidewalk legalization ASAP if you're hoping for global success. All three pictured after the break in order of S, M, and Large.
Update: Video added to show just how nimble the handle-less S and M versions can be.
[Via
Akihabara News]
posted Aug 1st 2008 10:36AM
Just what the world needs, a way to get to fast food restaurants that burns more money and less calories...
Does it have a built-in TV? Has anyone seen Wall-E?
In Japan, bicycles frequent pavements (sidewalks) despite it being illegal almost everywhere
(Although most people here believe it is perfectly legal, it is not!)
As such, whether this can legally travel there or not, it most probably will (If we ever see it)
I still prefer using the Jet Pack.
True, but bike riders and pedestrians are used to it and know how to avoid each other.
Unless they up the speed, it seems like it's just more cumbersome (and costly) than just walking. I mean not the actual traveling part, but you've got to worry about storage and possible theft, if you go up any stairs you've got to drag it along or leave it behind, you can step over a pothole or other obstacle but you'll have to get off this thing and haul it past the obstruction, and so on.
And anyways, I'm waiting for the unicycle version to come out... that'll be sweet.
Video added to show just how nimble the handle-less S and M versions can be.
Said the actress to the bishop...
cool
Cool? Since when were segways ever cool? You should google /search Engadget for the article where chinese anti-terrorist police members used them. I see Sec. Officers use them on the Philly subway and king of prussia mall, and boy do they look dumb. I don't see toyota making such a big impact here. Most people will pass until more interest is shown in all things electric like the fully electric car.
Sorry missed post below, Japanese, not Chinese.
ha, you misread the post below (he says, "jealous of the Chinese SWAT team with Segways) , because you were right the first time...it is the Chinese :-)
oh well...
I agree...cool.
Putting aside the issue of "coolness" I like the fact that you can have your hands free, and the fact that you don't have two gaint ass wheels sticking out the sides. this actually looks Semi-practical for long distance and like it could fit on an escalator.
It does look just a teensy bit unstable compared to a segway though
I think the Japan Self Defense Force may be a little jealous of the Chinese SWAT team with Segways... Maybe they should read the comments on Engadget on those guys first
I think this would be better since it can climb up ramps and your hands are completely free to hold any guns you need, lol
That's weird. When I walk or run up ramps/stairs/etc., my hands are completely free as well. What, exactly, do you do with YOUR hands? Never mind, don't want to know....
All very cool until a crowd gets out of control and you need to retreat at slightly more than walking speed.
I can't help being impressed by this thing; it carries a standing human at walking speeds, without them even having to move their legs!
That's nothing, a bicycle can carry a sitting human being at a far greater speed than people can normally sit!
but you still have to move your legs.
That's nothing, a car can carry an eating human being at a far greater speed than people can normally eat!
That's nothing, a plane can carry a sh*tting human being at a far greater speed than people can normally sh*t
Yeah that's nothing because the ISS caries alot of people real fucking fast around the globe(in orbit) AND THEY DO EXPERIMENTS AND FREEZE THIS CRAP! PWND!
This looks mediocre at best, come on Plastic transporters, meh. I love the Segway and this is just a cheap copycat, cheap plastic copycat. Hell they don't even have an all terrain version. MEh Indeed!
That's nothing. A rocket can carry a vomiting human being faster than they can vomit.
Soopergooman killed it...
Yes but where's the video of the person doing a face plant as soon as you hit the slightest crack in the sidewalk. The big wheels on the Segway have a purpose. This thing would be rendered completely worthless on all but a smooth flat surface and if the novelty factor on a Segway is high, this is in the clouds.
For me, one of the lamest things about the Segway is that you can't just take it on the metro-link with you or easily store it in your office/cubical. This device seems to remove that obstacle as it greatly reduces the mass of the device. It may actually make public transportation a viable option in not so metro areas.
@Jeremy - plus if you're a cop facing an angry crowd and can't drive any faster than a walk, well then it's at least handy for bludgeoning people. That could be nice.
Awwww, look, it's a baby winglet.
Segway still has Jackie Chan!
Fix the title.
Should be
"Why? We don't know"
not "why we don't know"
Why?
We don't know
Why we? Don't know.
Why we don't? I do know!
I'm confuzzled.
I know why we don't know why we know but we know that we know that we don't know why. You know?
@ SUPERGOOMAN : Congratulations, you killed two running jokes in a row.
I want a cheap eee version of this...
Introducing the new Winglet EEE! You can work everywhere while going anywhere! *
* Assuming there is wireless connectivity. In the US, coverage may be limited because the wireless carriers are too big of cheap a$$e$ to expand their network into areas they don't make 7 digit plus revenes.
You don't know why because you're narrow-minded.
You don't shift your weight on a Segway to turn it. You use hand controls.
Guess who bought a Segway. That's simply moving.
In the new model (i2) you have to lean to steer. Go to Youtube and find a video or it and it will explain it all.
Looks like an Iphone.
This is why Engadget needs bouncers.
I dunno, that avatar makes up for the shitty post....
fap fap fap fap
Any smart Mac enthusiast would lowercase the "i" and capitalize "P" and lowercase "hone".
My friends, we have a troll.
Yeah, i was gunna say, that avvy has good enough bouncers....
'why we don't know' any grammar and most words
Man this shit scares me.
We are already too sedentary, are we gonna stop walking for good?!
They're gonna have to start makin larger sofas...
I suppose during short breaks in your marathon blog-posting weekends you are out for a spirited walk yourself, eh?
That's what Wii Fit is for!
This is true perhaps for Americans, which use cars to get everywhere, but most of Japan (where this product is aimed at) gets around on mass-transit. Which requires a lot of walking and standing around. In America these days we rent out those electric-scooters in Walmart so old or fat people don't have to walk around the store.
Still I doubt these Segway-esque modes of transporation will ever catch on, but if Toyota can make these for a reasonable price (which the Segway isn't), it may have a chance. Also this thing is only 20lbs and foldable which makes it a little interesting.
Toyota's got the wrong idea with the sizes. It shouldn't be small, medium, and tall; it should be small, medium, and wide so you can grow into a new model as your ass hangs out farther and farther.
I need a larger sofa.
Sedentary? Dude you could do some bad-ass Tai-chi. (Kudos if your ear transpo-hyphenates that).
I bet if this was the iWinglet released by "the Cupertino based firm," Engadget would be all over that.
Do you think Toyota reverse engineered a Segway? NAH! They wouldn't dare.
Gee, Toyota being completely unoriginal, stealing someone else's idea? How un-Japanese (NOT).
BTW, it's only half as fast as a Segway (20 km/hr max).
We not steal. We make better!
You got low ranked Benson because you used the wrong Engrish... It goes like so...
"We no stear! We make bettel!"
I'd rather walk and drive an electric car than ride one of these. I'd feel a right nob.
Poor lefty!
are they supposed to have retractable handles? because i don't know anyone outside of billy barty who could use the first one...
holy crap, apparently the small one is a hands free version... who in the hell will have the kind of balance required to use one of these? are these being marketed solely to seasoned skateboarders? big car company puts out vehicle you don't use your hands to drive... nah, i don't see any lawsuits.
Both the small and medium are handsfree, as seen in the picture. (Yes, the picture of the girl with the thing between her legs. I leave the obligatory lewd jokes to others.)
Actually, the S model has calfles, and the M model has kneeles, and only the L model has handles.
and the average person will end up with bruiseles.
Honestly, that one chick looks like she could balance a book on her head doing that.
Last time I checked the Segway users couldn't side step. "Prepare to step aside Segway" should read "Prepare to spin slightly awkwardly on the spot to one side then trundle forwards a foot or so"
Does the tall one come with a toy horse's head?
It's a mobility scooter for the able-bodied. Lame.
But a human-powered version might be interesting - some sort of self-balancing unicycle.
"Remember, Scooty Puff Jr. Sucks!"
You simply have to admire the sheer indefatigable resilience of some people. While not quite on a par with the Flat Earth Society I really think that this deserves an award; with luck the inventors, producers and users will all get a Darwin award.
This is not so much building a better mousetrap as building a better Dodo trap.
you're obviously too literate for this site
OTOH, if Toyota can cut the price to, say, $500, they might have something.
OTOH, if Toyota can cut the price to, say paying me $100/month to own/use it, they might have something.
Nah, I still wouldn't use it...
Well there's the S model and the M model. Is there an S&M model?
I don't think my balls would like that mode of transportation
Beware of bumps...
I think your balls would retract once you purchase one, so no worries.
Hey, guys and gals, call me an idiot but I LOVE the idea of a (cheaper) Segway. If the price were lower, I'd have one FOR SURE. But, I want larger, softer wheels and one suitable for OFF-ROAD travel. For now I'll stick with my ARGO, not 2 wheels, but EIGHT. And it goes on water too. With several people on it.
making it completely unlike anything being discussed here.
Segway + thing master = WIN!!
is there anything to hold on to with your hands or is that what the girl is for?
i prefer my handle not to slap me
I've never seen such a happy looking model. I know she's just thinking, "if only I'd decided to become an airline stewardess earlier... I could have made something of myself.."
.. So it's top speed is 3mph?
does anybody remember this?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1017/1413506458_2228ff1271.jpg
That's the toyota mark 2 that is.
Making a form of transport more phalic than the Ford Probe.
The shape, the location, dang.
I once redesigned a proposed vehicle because the first draft looked too much like Dr Evil's spaceship. There turned out to be major advantages to the new configuration beyond the obvious, "you don't have to avert your children's eyes at the air and space museum".
When I get old and move to Florida, I want one with a seat.
i think they call that a wheelchair....
which this is
for standing people
Wouldn't that technically be a wheelstand?
Meet the iBot: www.ibotnow.com
It's even better because it'll raise itself up on 2 wheels, go up/down stairs and all kinds of other neat tricks!
Stop hating the advancement of technology people !! If we didnt move foward you guys would still be wearing your micheal jackson jackets with all those zippers !! LOL {:
Wow, it doubles as a kegelmaster!
A top speed of 6 kph??? That's only 3.7 mph, truly walking speed. Segway goes 12.5 mph.
The only use I can see for this is shuttling the elderly and disabled around airports and malls.
Exactly... it is their Mobility thing (helping disabled people).
I can't wait to see an ultimate HCI interface combining the Winglet, a Wii-mote, MIT dance floor, and VR helmet.
"...just how nimble the... S&M versions can be"
Heh
Toyota can suck it.
I can picture Steve Woz on one of these going crazy!