Toyota Announces the Development of the Winglet, a Personal Transport Assistant (a la Segway) . . .

[OneBlueSky]

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-16486-Toyota+announced+the+development+of+its+Winglet,+a+personal+transport+assistant.html

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".

- more . . .

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-16486-Toyota+announced+the+development+of+its+Winglet,+a+personal+transport+assistant.html

[JohnyCanuck]

1. I've got two personal transportation assistants.

They came free as standard equipment and occupy the floor space of two size 11 shoes. They're called feet, and as an added bonus, the more I use them, the healthier I get. :)

[noamnety]

2. That's very nice for you.

Some people have disabilities.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. I know.

I was just attempting to make a joke; that was what the :) was for.

[noamnety]

8. I didn't really understand the "joke" in it.

Maybe in person it would have come across. On the internets it sort of read to me as smug superiority because you can get around on your feet. Having spent the night in a foot splint here, my reaction to that was less than enthusiastic.

Still not seeing the humor exactly but if you didn't mean it to come off as superior, then I guess I'm glad.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. I thought the post was funny.

Too bad the Giant Shame-Laser Finger got all up in your grill.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Though people with disabilities are more likely to use something with a seat

than something you stand on - and that you control by shifting body weight.

[noamnety]

7. It depends on their situation.

their are a lot of people who aren't ready for a wheelchair but can't walk long distances. This gives them a choice beyond stay home or use a car, and since this presumably is far more efficient for transporting one person than a car is, seems like folks should maybe embrace that as a possible solution.

Dealing with chronic foot pain here myself, fused bones and all that I don't want to get surgery for, I have done both of those things - brought cars where I shouldn't have needed them because I didn't know if I could handle the walking, and just stayed home when I felt something was beyond me. Both are really frustrating.

[ourbluenation]

15. oh lighten up.

jesuschristonacracker. now he should apologize because he's got two feet and two legs that work? it was a joke homeskillet. and not a bad one at that.

[noamnety]

16. I'm not seeing the "Joke"

I guess it's that not everyone's healthy, but they are? Good one.

[spanone]

21. how's about a trailor hitch?

[itsrobert]

4. Just got back from vacation. I seen clowns on Segways

touring Washington D.C. and Gettysburg. Pathetic fat families riding them.

[noamnety]

10. did you also see "pathetic fat families"

driving in cars?

[Dreamer Tatum]

14. So...what information are you trying to convey?

Your ridicule of "fat families" makes it difficult to discern your feelings about Segways.

[DCKit]

19. Good thing you didn't go to Disney World.

The number of fat, lazy, impatient people zooming around on electric scooters is a hazard to anyone walking. My nephew almost got run down and I was spending so much time watching out for the kids, I don't remember much else about the trip.

It's not about personal mobility as much as it's about power - the power to terrorize other people.

[itsrobert]

20. Isn't that the truth

People too lazy to walk around an amusement park and they act like they are so high and mighty looking down on us using our feet to walk from place to place.

[MadHound]

6. For those who are too lazy to walk

I realize that this device, and the one built by Segway, have a few practical uses. Sadly, most of what I see these things being used for is by lazy people who simply don't want to walk. Hell, even a local police department bought one of these things, I have no idea what they were thinking when they did so. Too slow for the streets, too fast and bulky for the sidewalks.

What's next, litters carried by slaves as in the old days. More useless electronic shit to use up energy and eventually pollute our environment, but not before parting foolish people from their money.

[noamnety]

9. Do you see a lot of them?

I've never seen one in real life. As for this: "most of what I see these things being used for is by lazy people who simply don't want to walk" if you are seeing people with them, realize that 1) you see a lot more people using their cars for that, and 2) if you don't know them personally, you really have no way of knowing if they are dealing with chronic pain or not. Those things aren't always visible.

[dysfunctional press]

11. i finally quit using my handicap parking permit because of the shit i got from people...

when basically it's none of their business anyway.
i have chronic pain from a severely arthritic spine, and except for a bit of a hunch, you really can't tell it from looking at me. i take up to 70 mg of methadone daily, plus vicoprofen and gobs of flexeril. when i get into a parking lot, the first thing i generally do once i'm out of the car, is to find a shopping cart to use as a walker.

[ourbluenation]

12. that would be my 76 year old mom too. she's kind of overweight but can...

bust out the aqua aerobics like a bad ass. does them everyday. but on land her titanium hip and jacked knees give her pain for days. you can't tell by looking at her and like you, she pushes the cart when we go to get groceries because it helps to lean on it. And before anyone says shit about her being overweight and her bad knees etc, she has some kind of hereditary oesteo. She's got 9 siblings, some skinny, some chunky, and they all have this bone density problem.

One of the most judgemental places on the internets is right here on DU, Questionall. It's too damn bad.

As for these people mover things, as an alternative to a car, I say it's progress worthy of praise. Hell yes.

[Ian David]

17. I want one!

[BlooInBloo]

18. In downtown Seattle, I saw cops have a thingie that looks like a segway, but has 3 wheels.