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TOYOTA
Toyota scoots into the future - on a Winglet and a prayer
JAPANESE auto maker Toyota yesterday unveiled a motorized stand-up-and-ride contraption designed to help people scoot around malls and airports.
But the Winglet - so named for supposedly helping people move as though they had grown wings - takes some getting used to.
At a test ride, a demonstrator accompanying a reporter trying it out refused to let go of the machine, repeatedly expressing fears it may crash or get maneuvered incorrectly and cause injury.
The two-wheeler is similar to a Segway, except it's slower, going up to 6 kilometers an hour, about the same speed as pedestrians. Segway models can reach up to 20kph.
It stops easily with little pressure, pivots in a full circle and has been developed to be safe in crowded areas, according to Toyota Motor Corp. It also goes smoothly over bumps on roads.
The machine is designed to respond almost intuitively - moving forward when you lean to the front, and turning when you sway to the right or left, similar to skiing. One of three models shown comes with a protruding handle that can be grabbed and used like a steering wheel.
However, the Winglet has a long way to go before it can be a practical option for its intended audience of the elderly and others who find long-distance walking strenuous.
This reporter found it a bit of a challenge to travel a short flat course at a Toyota showroom. The machine's movements were sometimes jerky because you weren't sure how to position your weight to control it.
More seasoned riders, like Toyota engineers, were zipping around as though the thing was a skateboard. They say anyone can get used to it with time - and it's fun.
Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada, who scooted onto the stage on the device, said no plans were set to sell the Winglet as a commercial product, and pricing was also not decided.
'We hope to use robotics not only for manufacturing but also for social welfare,' he said.
Toyota said it would start testing the Winglet this year at a Japanese airport and resort complex and next year at a shopping mall to get public feedback. The smallest version of the Winglet, weighing 9.9 kilograms, can be folded up to be carried around in commuter trains or car trunks.
Toyota envisions a future in which the Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it relays shopping information at stores.
But the Winglet - so named for supposedly helping people move as though they had grown wings - takes some getting used to.
At a test ride, a demonstrator accompanying a reporter trying it out refused to let go of the machine, repeatedly expressing fears it may crash or get maneuvered incorrectly and cause injury.
The two-wheeler is similar to a Segway, except it's slower, going up to 6 kilometers an hour, about the same speed as pedestrians. Segway models can reach up to 20kph.
It stops easily with little pressure, pivots in a full circle and has been developed to be safe in crowded areas, according to Toyota Motor Corp. It also goes smoothly over bumps on roads.
The machine is designed to respond almost intuitively - moving forward when you lean to the front, and turning when you sway to the right or left, similar to skiing. One of three models shown comes with a protruding handle that can be grabbed and used like a steering wheel.
However, the Winglet has a long way to go before it can be a practical option for its intended audience of the elderly and others who find long-distance walking strenuous.
This reporter found it a bit of a challenge to travel a short flat course at a Toyota showroom. The machine's movements were sometimes jerky because you weren't sure how to position your weight to control it.
More seasoned riders, like Toyota engineers, were zipping around as though the thing was a skateboard. They say anyone can get used to it with time - and it's fun.
Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada, who scooted onto the stage on the device, said no plans were set to sell the Winglet as a commercial product, and pricing was also not decided.
'We hope to use robotics not only for manufacturing but also for social welfare,' he said.
Toyota said it would start testing the Winglet this year at a Japanese airport and resort complex and next year at a shopping mall to get public feedback. The smallest version of the Winglet, weighing 9.9 kilograms, can be folded up to be carried around in commuter trains or car trunks.
Toyota envisions a future in which the Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it relays shopping information at stores.
