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 August 1st 2008 10:36AM
I can picture Steve Ballmer waving one of these frenetically over his head while running around and grunting.
Looks like the offspring of a Dyson vacuum and a thighmaster.
Great, another way to achieve walking speed without actually walking.
We'll have a new, bolder generation of *well-balanced fatties*
Has anyone making bad comments ever been to Japan?
It's not like the US. The average back road is paved better than a US interstate. Segways are worthless in the US becuase most people need to travel farther than 10 miles to get anywhere. In Japan most people stay within 10 miles thier entire lives.
S & M versions? Sounds kinky.
It's alot! (it's alot). It's alot! (it's alot).
it's a lot... like like MASTER AND SERVANT!
Looks like the offspring of a Dyson vacuum and a Thighmaster.
Oh my God. Nerds on a nerd site talking about how nerdy the Segway looks. What perfect irony!
The Segway is a disruptive machine that has yet to reach it's full potential.
I like the Winglet for the size. It fills a niche that Segway doesn't address both with max speed and size.
I like the Winglet because it is small and slow. Perfect for indoors.
My complaint about the Winglet and the Segway is the steering system. I know it is possible to add senors that read weight shifts and program the controler to to turn in response.
The Segway is turned by pushing the control shaft in the direction to turn. No need to lean.
The Winglet would do well to ditch the ankel bar, the kneele bar and the handle bar.
There is no way to make either mchine look "cool" for those who guage their personal worth based on the opinions of others. I'm afraid those people will never do anything that might further degrade their low self-esteem.
Both systems would do well to kill the side-by-side stance, put a deck on top and ride sideways. Not only is sidways board riding more intuitive it also looks cool so those with no cool can by some.
Sony has their own patent for this invention.
No, no, no.
To be disruptive, you have to actually do some disrupting. The Segway is an unusual, even original, machine, but it is not disruptive.
Oh, you meant disruptive as a buzzword. As in "disruptive technology," the new catch-all for "something I think is new and cool." Got it.
Reminds me of Arrested Development's Gob.
I'll be impressed if the weight limit for that small one is more than 200lbs
I'll be impressed if they think it won't have to be over 200 lbs.
This is most promising as a robotic platform.
It's a chindogu!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chind%C5%8Dgu
I feel fatter just by watching this video...
The red one looks like it would rack me every time I lost my footing. No thanks.
Yes, it's an angry color, no? I think would do just that.
.
no worries, just roll on over to rite-aid for teh muscle pills
.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/science/01muscle.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
.
That hole is the perfect size for my huge dick
what'd be even more perfect is watching you fall flat on your face while your impossibly huge e-penis gets caught under the wheels.
Damnit konshuss, I couldn't even get my optical mouse to click the little plus sign I was laughing so hard. It just kept bouncing up and down. Oh sh--!
"Video added to show just how nimble the handle-less S and M versions can be"
I am incredibly disappointed with both your video and your definition of "S&M versions".
Oh, this thing looks reeeeeal safe (well, the ones without the handle, at least). Many people have crashed and fallen off of Segways - few people would be able to control the handle-less versions of this thing without falling on their butts.
So if you hit a rock or something that middle part goes right in your....
You can tell this is a nerd site by all the comments by nerds focused on juvenile fascination with sex.
No jd - I hate to ruin your little cubicle fantasy but the young woman in the video looks to have adequate cordination not to be injured if she had to bend her knees to absorb the shock of hitting a rock. I'm sure her reaction time is quick enough also not to suffer whatever specific injury you may be envision alone in your cubicle when you think everyone has left for the day.
How do people with so little creativity populate a site dedicated to invention. Oh, I remember. Most of you are scientists and engineers and not artist.
Can you put a baby bag on the red one just in case her water breaks while bringing home the groceries? Wouldn't want the little guy to take a header bounce on the pavement.
A real "crotch" rocket.
It reminds me of Mr. Garrison's "IT" on South Park! Maybe the model should sit and spin on the central stem... you know, for cheap thrills! It looks VERY uncomfortable. With such small tires, it won't handle a bump very well before someone gets launched like a space cadet. One little bump and off ya go!
Of course, it doesn't move very fast at all, either. Converting all the metrics into standard units that we stupid Americans use (because we're different, and different is special!), the Winglet moves along at a completely lackluster 3.73 miles per hour and has a very crappy range of 6.21 miles. You wouldn't be able to ride on it for more than two hours straight when the battery goes kaput.
It does have one leg up on the Segway, though -- weight. It's 27.12 pounds which isn't much next to the Segway's industrial-grade-bulk of +/- 100 pounds.
Sorry, but I think I'll stick with my Segway. Yep, I own one, that's right. No, I'm not fat, either. LOL.
S&M versions?
Just another gadet for lazy Americans
Does it come in venti :P FOAMY 4 LYFE
This is not unusual that in Japan whenever a product that is being exclusively produced by foriegn based companies eventually garners the slightest bit of interest a "domestic" manufacturer has to step up to produce their own version.
However, this time they may have overreacted.
Where are the cup holders? Thing ain't no good unless I can have a coupla cold ones along for the ride.
I hate to criticize folks I don't know but to say any idea is dumb because it's not 'cool' seems pretty ridiculous. Not to mention such comments reveal a person who aims for mediocrity and sameness.
I bought a Segway right away and I gotta tell ya, as an urban vehicle nothing compares. I'm also a cycling advocate, sit on the board of a local cycling club and volunteer my time with local transportation issues for my city.....and I know I look silly on my Segway.
But when I can't convince folks to leave their car behind and ride a bike because they can't arrive sweaty, mussed or needing to change clothes then anything non-car is on the table.
Think about it. You might not like it, you might call it uncool and 'it' may look silly but if we desire a non-car or limited car future then *every* clean idea needs to be an option.
Can't wait for the Xtreme edition. Why is it we haven't seen anybody try to jump for distance on a Segway?
Roads should be for cars only! NO bike lanes, the walk on the side for ALL other traffice.
If a car hits a bike or pedestrican guess who will be most always hurt?
If a bike or one of these things hits a pedestrian the damage is most likely not going to be disaterious.
Bikers don't stay in the bike lane anyway they love to "Ride on the line" or if there are more than one over the line. Bikers are a menance on the roadways so keep these thing on the sidewalk.
A lot of people here are being such luddites. Complaining about being lazy? That's idiotic. This product is obviously meant for fun, not a substitute for walking. Besides, anyone who's lazy enough to stay on this thing their entire lives without exercise DESERVES to be obese and hopefully worse.
you can walk this fast and i am far more nimble on my feet. and good luck finding a sidewalk smooth as that floor. this is cool, almost pointless though cool.
It's more stylish than their cars!
History has proven that Japan is very good at improving on the inventions of others.
cooler?..eh..it certainly is more compact than the geekway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGThJKtvXTw
Gives new meaning to the phrase: Stupid is as stupid does. LOL
I think Segway style vehicles are pretty cool, but then I'm white and nerdy. I'm positive they use one for the character Rankle in the Canadian TV series 'Flash Gordon'.
I cannot refute the problems already mentioned. However I have to take opposition to the notion you don't get any exercise on one. you are still standing and shifting your weight, which is more than sitting in a car, even a manual transmission. then again when you park a car you have to walk from the parking lot, which might be about the same energy to stand during the ride to the store...
as to why they haven't taken off... you can't carry much while riding one - pretty much what you can carry in a backpack. so I won't be picking up my kids from soccer with one. And you are not protected from the elements - what about rain? what about 90 degree 80% humidity weather? I wouldn't walk or ride a bike in those conditions either, so I'm not giving up my car. I certainly don't see it replacing walking or biking because of the terrain limitations. but then I live in colorado where people hike rough terrain and ride their bicycles off-road almost as much as they ride on the street, so maybe my perception is skewed.
that said, the biggest bonus I see is that there are zero emissions. no CO gas, no particulate pollution, no noise pollution. it's perfect for indoors, like airports and malls, and big warehouses. where it's being used already. this new thing just adds an element of competition.
And Steve Jobs still thinks it f**king sucks.
brings to mind the lyrics of the old 60's song....:
"In the year 5555
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs got nothing to do
Some machine is doing that for you...."