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Early sketches show the new Segway concept evolving, and reveal the passenger position in the vehicle.  (Source: The Design Blog)

Segway concept, in black  (Source: The Design Blog)

Segway concept, in white  (Source: The Design Blog)
GM and Segway take notice -- this Segway actually looks attractive

The Segway, made infamous by legions of mall cops across the country, has already proven itself as an efficient -- if a bit-embarrassing looking -- mode of transportation in crowded situations.  Can the Segway become a city passenger vehicle, though?

That was the idea behind GM's P.U.M.A. concept, a Segway that can reach speeds of 35 mph and gets 200 mpg.  The concept was thrown out in the days of GM's final throws before the government mandated its bankruptcy.  Many responded with skepticism that people would want to ride such a vehicle around the city.  Since that time, there hasn't been as much PUMA news.

Then Michael DiTullo came along.  The independent designer, not affiliated with the project, has thrown out an outlandish design, which he says could save P.U.M.A.  The new design features an aggressive look conjuring up images of sharks and other fierce sea creatures with sharp lines an a back-curving face.

According to analyst Naresh Chauhan who wrote about the new concept on The Design Blog, "[The new design features] a horizontal design to provide safety and comfort to the rider, the new segway breaks the form with several bone lines, leading the eye from front to back rather that top to bottom, and moves closer to the ground for a smooth ride. The two-seater segway connects more emotionally with passengers through its through form and details, other than presenting the advanced technology for brisk movement on cramped city roads."

Sure to excite certain members of shopping center law enforcement across the country, the design illustrates that even the Segway, an awkward creation by its very nature, could be made to look a bit edgy.  It should be interesting to see if GM or Segway show any interest in picking the design up.



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WTF
By therealnickdanger on 10/12/2009 10:50:40 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not even sure I can comprehend what I'm looking at. 2-seater? How much practice would it take to balance that?




RE: WTF
By DEVGRU on 10/12/2009 11:04:12 AM , Rating: 3
Yeah no kidding. Don't worry, the $10,000 that it'll probably cost will lighten your wallet thus making balancing easier.


RE: WTF
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 10/12/2009 12:02:53 PM , Rating: 1
WTF Indeed, does this thing come with a schematic?


RE: WTF
By Reclaimer77 on 10/12/2009 12:42:02 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
GM and Segway take notice -- this Segway actually looks attractive


Looks attractive to who ?? Eco-nuts with more money than sense...


RE: WTF
By carniver on 10/14/2009 4:46:40 PM , Rating: 2
Please keep these away from the roads, and certainly away from the front of my car while I'm driving.


RE: WTF
By Flunk on 10/15/2009 12:08:03 AM , Rating: 2
None, Segways have electronic gyro-stabilization. Of course if they had included say, a third wheel, they wouldn't need it.


RE: WTF
By mmcdonalataocdotgov on 10/19/2009 2:34:24 PM , Rating: 2
So if you are sitting in it, how do you lean forward, back and sideways to drive it?


Er...
By Pythias on 10/12/2009 4:34:18 PM , Rating: 5
If Darth Vader had a baby stroller...




RE: Er...
By captchaos2 on 10/12/2009 4:39:11 PM , Rating: 2
No, it needs clone trooper helmet decals, or boba fett decals!


Why
By Hare on 10/13/2009 1:16:32 PM , Rating: 2
Who exactly would want one of these and why? I don't even understand the mall cop segway. What's wrong with walking?




RE: Why
By HotFoot on 10/13/2009 1:47:09 PM , Rating: 2
Good question. This certainly doesn't replace a car... where to I put my groceries?

It looks like this thing would be competing against something like an enclosed bicycle. Actually, I think an enclosed recumbent bicycle would do much better... and those can get to 35 mph for sure.


RE: Why
By Fracture on 10/15/2009 9:46:35 AM , Rating: 2
This design would be great for security detail in parking lots and loading docks or any other venue that would have open air exposure. Portable heating and shelter means keeping these people where they need to be instead of in the break room.

My company currently uses segways to monitor 2 multi-acre parking lots and a parking garage, which saves on the cost of using an automobile. The parking lots are roughly 1000 yds apart, making traveling between them a time-consuming practice if they were on foot.

Also, if you've ever been to a convention center or airport terminal, security would respond far faster with these than if they were on foot.


My biggest complaint?
By randomposter on 10/12/2009 4:45:49 PM , Rating: 2
As for the overall look of the thing, I can live with it. It's rather odd but if it does what it's supposed to do that's fine.

But what bothers me about the diagram with the human figure shown positioned inside is that it appears the view to the side is completely blocked by that big structural rib. In order to look sideways you'd have to crane your head down and back to look through that little triangular window. Bad - and probably unsafe - design decision there.




RE: My biggest complaint?
By christojojo on 10/14/2009 9:46:14 PM , Rating: 2
You really missed the schematic entirely. Probably not totally your fault; but you are not looking so much at a vehicle but a mobile Johnny-On-The-Spot/Johnny Cab clone.

;)


Looking forward...
By Hakuryu on 10/14/2009 2:03:11 AM , Rating: 2
In business, you always have to be looking forward.

While this concept may fit into looking forward, does anyone really think this is the future? People are getting fatter and a healthy lifestyle may be sliding into the past for future generations, but does anyone truly believe personal transports will be the future?

As unhealthy as I can get, I canonot forsee a time when I'd pay thousands of dollars for a gadget like this instead of walking. I'd be ashamed to be seen in something like this. I just don't get it.

I live in Cleveland Ohio, and while it may not be a New York or Los Angeles... I have never seen one person using a Segway. Try to convince me that in the future many people will be using these things, and I'd rate you just a peg higher then the religous fanatics on the corners.




RE: Looking forward...
By mmcdonalataocdotgov on 10/19/2009 2:35:26 PM , Rating: 2
Like the segway, another answer to a question nobody asked.


wasn't the whole concept behind the segway....
By someguy123 on 10/14/09, Rating: 0
By sdsdv10 on 10/16/2009 1:24:55 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I don't see how this thing is going to maintain balance without adding another wheel


The same was as the iBot:
http://www.ibotnow.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBOT

Actually, the original Segway was design off shoot from the iBot, balancing wheel chair.


lame
By zephyrprime on 10/16/2009 1:44:29 PM , Rating: 2
looks lame. Why are these guys not seeing the obvious? making the segway sellable is easy. Just do a Marty Mc'fly and get rid of the lame handle bar!




Really Hot...
By JBird7986 on 10/21/2009 10:42:30 AM , Rating: 2
This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen...not only is the concept stupid, but if you try and use this outside, it's going to become incredibly hot inside this encapsulated thing very quickly. Epic fail.




2000 leagues under the fail
By tastyratz on 10/12/2009 12:57:25 PM , Rating: 1
That beached submarine is hardly attractive, no thanks you can keep your bicycle helmet.
I would think a more classy simple lined design would stick out a little less.

Ultimately it wont be easy to make something like that compete with the sexy lines of a car - its an upright vehicle that looks like a glorified Russian nesting doll.




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