Toyota reveals 'Winglet' assistance robots, Segways beware [w/VIDEO]
Click above for high-res gallery of Toyota's Winglets
Toyota's bid to completely take over the world with robots is getting ever closer to fruition. Its latest endeavor is intended to place mankind on moving platforms -- very Segway-esque. Coming in Small, Medium and Large sizes, Toyota's Winglet places its riders in a standing position, likely to dissuade notions of the future portrayed in Pixar's recent Wall-E movie in which humans spent their time in more relaxed positions. Powered by an electric motor, the Winglet's two wheels are closely monitored by on-board sensors that constantly adjust the movements of the machine to keep everything upright. At just 6 kilometers per hour it ain't very vest and can't go too far with its 5-10 kilometer range, but it makes up for these issues by taking just one hour to charge. Testing is currently underway, with human trials expected to begin this Autumn in Japan. Presumably after that there'll be a version with handle bar-mounted guns that's able to round up humans in a pen. Check out the video of Toyota's winglet in action after the jump.
Gallery: Toyota Winglets
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE
Toyota Develops Personal Transport Assistance Robot 'Winglet'
Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today development of the "Winglet", a personal transport assistance robot ridden in a standing position.
The Winglet-still being refined-is one of TMC's people-assisting Toyota Partner Robots. Designed to contribute to society by helping people enjoy a safe and fully mobile life, the Winglet is a compact next-generation everyday transport tool that offers advanced ease of use and expands the user's range of mobility.
The Winglet consists of a body (with a projected area the size of an A3 sheet of paper) that houses an electric motor, two wheels and internal sensors that constantly monitor the user's position and make adjustments in power to ensure stability. Meanwhile, a unique parallel link mechanism allows the rider to go forward, backward and turn simply by shifting body weight, making the vehicle safe and useful even in tight spaces or crowded environments.
TMC has created three models, the "L", "M" and "S", each having different handling features that allow consumers to select a model appropriate to their needs-from "practical" to "hands-free sporty".
TMC plans various technical and consumer trials to gain feedback during the Winglet's lead-up to practical use. Practical tests of its utility as a mobility tool are planned to begin in Autumn 2008 at Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) near Nagoya, and Laguna Gamagori, a seaside marine resort complex in Aichi Prefecture. Testing of its usefulness in crowded and other conditions, and how non-users react to the device, is to be carried out in 2009 at the Tressa Yokohama shopping complex in Yokohama City.
TMC is pursuing sustainability in research and development, manufacturing and social contribution as part of its concept to realize "sustainability in three areas" and to help contribute to the health and comfort of future society. Toyota Partner Robot development is being carried out with this in mind and applies TMC's approach to monozukuri ("making things"), which includes its mobility, production and other technologies. In a related development, TMC unveiled the "MOBIRO" mobility robot, designed for use in a sitting position, in 2007.
TMC aims to realize the practical use of Toyota Partner Robots in the early 2010s by furthering its robotic development and strengthening collaboration between industry, government and academia.
Outline of Winglet
| Model | "S" | "M" | "L" |
| Length (mm) | 265 | 265 | 265 |
| Width (mm) | 464 | 464 | 464 |
| Height (mm) | 462 | 680 | 1,130 |
| Weight (kg) | 9.9 | 12.3 | |
| Maximum cruising speed (km/h) |
6 | ||
| Turning radius (m) | 0 (able to rotate within its own space) | ||
| Cruising range* (km) | 5 | 10 | |
| Charging time | 1 hour (full charge) | ||
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SVTCobra 12:37PM (8/01/2008)
Ugly
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User 5:23PM (8/01/2008)
Don't you think a Segway looks uglier, though?
Don 10:19PM (8/01/2008)
I agree. It is ugly. Toyota again shows all they can do is copy on American inventions. That's all they know how to do..... copy, copy copy. If only the domestic can get over this bad period, now that they are awake, they will bury them with technology.
ed 12:39PM (8/01/2008)
Oh my.
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Jake 12:43PM (8/01/2008)
I guess I just don't mind walking all that much.
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Red 12:51PM (8/01/2008)
*roll eyes*
Leave it to Toyota's shareholders and boardroom to come up with something to "assist" them with doing something so simple as walking, not because they CAN'T walk, but because they're too ******* lazy to walk.
Lazy jack***es.
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Tai 7:03PM (8/01/2008)
The irony is that Japanese shareholders are thin just like the majority of the Japanese people. I guess their target
audience will be disable people and the elderly.
John R 12:52PM (8/01/2008)
Toyota is the Borg
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Adam Marcello 12:53PM (8/01/2008)
Cause people riding segways dont look stupid enough. How bout you make a car thats not boring as hell instead of wasting effort on this crap Toyota.
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Kumail 12:56PM (8/01/2008)
wow, they are slow. id rather walk, or get a segway if i was that lazy.
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GT 1:13PM (8/01/2008)
I see benefits for the disabled (with some small modification) but really, regular dont need this, I really dont see the point as standing on it will make your legs tired anyway. I watched Wall-E and this scares me into thinking that the future in Wall-E might actually come true lol
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MikeInNC 1:10PM (8/01/2008)
I think the Segway is a very interesting machine but the cost hasn't dropped as expected. If this could bring the entry point price down I don't see a problem with it. There are plenty of people that can stand but can't walk very well. This would be a very liberating device for those folks now confined to wheelchairs.
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Pdexter 1:22PM (8/01/2008)
I really hope those don't come common because if they do you know we are in a big trouble. How lazy can you be? Plus you look absolute dork using those.
Like MikeInNC said those who REALLY might need it i have no problem.
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tankd0g 1:23PM (8/01/2008)
That thing looks like a face plant waiting to happen. I can't imagine what the point of it is. They make a lot of stuff to assist their aging population get around but this looks like it takes more effort and concentration than walking.
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MajorGeek 1:41PM (8/01/2008)
I have a perspective, except I own a Segway. The article here and elsewhere have headlines claiming this to be a Segway competitor. Its a 3.7 MPH vehicle, 1 looks like it is for kneeling, one for sitting and one for standing. The bottom line is no one will buy these because of their slow speed. The Segway is an awesome product, although expensive, but it is a wonderful machine. Mine has 230 miles on it. The assumption is this is more built for somewhere like China, where 3 mph in crowds makes sense, but no Segwat owner will even look at them, per the Segway forum I visit.
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MajorGeek 1:42PM (8/01/2008)
Yup, now try riding one. Then come back and tell us..
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MajorGeek 1:44PM (8/01/2008)
Coment system screwed me, that was for Pdexter. Lots of people say that, then they ride one.
Benfolio 2:32PM (8/01/2008)
Ah, Toyota, but is it as good at moving backwards as well as it is at "moving forward"?
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Marreroj 3:02PM (8/01/2008)
if they could bring the speed it would be great. i think in a couple of years you will look more like a dork for driving your SUV/truck with no passengers than riding one of these.
p.s tandem bicycle equivalent of these = hilarity.
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strangway 2:18PM (8/02/2008)
I'd hate to ride bitch seat on a tandem version of this, or would I prefer it? Hmmmm.