Toyota and Sony working on single-seat vehicle
Toyota and Sony are forming a new partnership to enter a segment rarely tackled by mainstream automakers, the single-seater vehicle market. Back in 2005, Toyota unveiled the i-swing, a concept car that was basically an armchair on wheels. This time around it's making a serious attempt at creating a viable one-seater vehicle, and has enlisted the help of several Sony engineers to help see it to fruition. Sony has sold several major patents surrounding its robotic technology to Toyota and seven of its researchers are temporarily working with the carmaker on project called the next-generation "transporter."
Toyota has already developed a new robot-on-wheels called the TPR-Robina. The robot is used as a guide at its headquarters and has the ability to avoid obstacles and talk with visitors. Sony, meanwhile, has abandoned the early work it's done in robotics and is instead focusing on improving its core electronics business.
[Source: Drive]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Compy386 11:38AM (8/27/2007)
They have those. It's called a motorcycle.
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StinkyPete 11:48AM (8/27/2007)
Looks like they're trying to complete with the Rascal.
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Max 11:48AM (8/27/2007)
Looks like a Segway with a seat mounted to it with a caster under it.
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Egon 11:50AM (8/27/2007)
Maybe they'll call it the Don'tWalkman
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sh 12:09PM (8/27/2007)
Histerical! don'twalkman! I love it!
CR 1:06PM (8/27/2007)
Looks like a aerodynamic hover-round.
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Solo Racer 1:41PM (8/27/2007)
There's another single-seat "vehicle" in existence that this thing resembles: a wheelchair.
Stephen 1:03PM (8/27/2007)
What on earth would you use one of these for? I understand that something like this would be a lot more efficient and practical for large city commuting, but it seems like it would require its own road network (or ban cars from the existing network). I know I wouldn't want to be sandwiched between two cars on one of those things.
Besides, the cities that I could see these being used it already have decent public transportation systems.
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SPG 2:23PM (8/27/2007)
So what are these going to be used for? Disabled people to have somthing more expensive and funkier then a motorized card (Rascal style), Yuppie sheep to have a new Segway type prep cruiser?
I can't imagine these would be legal for streets, sidewalks, or allowed in any mall.
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h8rain 3:04PM (8/27/2007)
With the talk about robots and cars..........
"But will it transform?"
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John B 5:45PM (8/27/2007)
Does most everything a bicycle does - at ten times the price.
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Larry 4:21PM (8/27/2007)
I would buy one! (if it had an anti-gravity device!)
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gary 10:06PM (8/27/2007)
What is the 0-60mph time?
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