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Toyota Winglet S

Toyota Winglet S, M, and L
Toyota Motor Corporation admits Winglet robots are still being refined

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that it is developing what it called a personal transport assistance robot. The device is called the Winglet and TMC has three different models currently being developed.

The Winglet is similar to the Segway i2 in the function it looks to fill for people who want an alternative mode of transportation to a car, bike, or walking. The main difference between the Segway and the Winglet line is that the Winglet is much smaller.

TMC says that the Winglet has a body that is roughly the size of a sheet of A3 paper. Inside the body are the motor, two wheels, and the internal sensors needed to monitor the user's position and make adjustments in power to provide stability.

Winglet uses a unique parallel link mechanism, according to TMC, that allows the rider to go forward, backwards and turn by shifting body weight. All three models have a zero turning radius making them useful in crowds and tight spaces.

TMC has created three Winglet models designated by letters including the L, M, and S. The three models each have different handling characteristics, but share many of the same features. All of the models have the same length and with measurements of 265 mm and 464 mm respectively. All three models also share the same 6 km/h maximum cruising speed and all three can be fully charged in only 1 hour.

The Winglet S is 462 mm high, weighs 9.9 kg, and has a cruising range of 5 km. The Winglet M is 680 mm high, weighs 12.3 kg, and has a maximum cruising range of 10 km. The Winglet L is 1,130 mm high, weighs 12.3 kg, and has a 10km cruise range. TMC says the handling of the three models ranges from practical to "hands-free sporty."

TMC says that a variety of technical and consumer trials of the Winglet robots will be held including tests of its use as a mobility tool starting in the fall of 2008. Trials for the Winglet models will be held at Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) and at Laguna Gamagori -- a seaside resort complex. TMC says that trials of the Winglet models in crowded areas to test the mobility of the device and to see how non-users react to it will be held at the Tressa Yokohama shopping complex in 2009.

One of the biggest differences between the Winglet and the Segway transporter is the speed. The Winglet will top out at only 3.7 MPH -- barely walking speed. The Segway on the other hand can travel 12.5 MPH. TMC has no comment on pricing or retail availability of the Winglet models.

The range of the Winglet is also significantly less than the Segway. The two larger Winglet models can only travel  a bit over 6 miles on a full charge while the smallest of the Winglets runs out of power in a mere 3 miles. The Segway can travel as far as 24 miles depending on the model.


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By BurnItDwn on 8/1/2008 2:55:05 PM , Rating: 5
I can walk faster than that, what purpose does this serve? It doesn't get me anywhere faster than all the alternate modes of transportation?

Now if these things could go 30+ MPH and last at least 20 miles, then it might be useful, but otherwise It's just a silly novelty toy.




By stlrenegade on 8/1/2008 2:58:28 PM , Rating: 5
Looks like we're getting closer and closer to how humans move around in "WALL-E"


By phaxmohdem on 8/1/2008 5:09:14 PM , Rating: 3
Yay!

Now if someone will just release those drinkable cupcakes...


By bodar on 8/1/2008 11:48:04 PM , Rating: 2
Bah. Put some cupcakes in a blender with some chocolate milk and call it a day.

/waiting for Wall-e to hit the local $1 theater.


By FITCamaro on 8/2/2008 11:40:25 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah its sad that people are developing crap like this at all?

Advertisement:
"Are you a piece of crap who's too lazy to walk around the local mall for an hour? Buy our Winglet and never have to exert yourself in the slightest ever again."

Even Segways are pointless since you can easily bike faster than one.


By masher2 (blog) on 8/1/2008 3:22:46 PM , Rating: 5
> "Now if these things could go 30+ MPH "

30 mph would certainly be a safety hazard...can you imagine that on a city sidewalk? Still, I agree with your underlying point that this sub-4mph speed is too slow to be useful. 8-10 mph would be about ideal in my opinion.


By BurnItDwn on 8/1/2008 3:34:45 PM , Rating: 2
Never said it was safe, but it's gotta be faster than human powered transportation to be useful IMO. A fat man on a bike can do more than 8-10 mph.

I'm sure people will still buy them .... but I just don't see it as useful. Maybe it'll be a big hit and battery technology will improve as a result of it ...


By masher2 (blog) on 8/1/2008 4:14:29 PM , Rating: 3
> "Never said it was safe, but it's gotta be faster than human powered transportation to be useful IMO"

It's not just the speed, it's the exertion savings. Most people can run 20mph, but you don't see them doing more than a 4mph stroll normally. If they can do double that without breaking a sweat, the device would sell.


By mdogs444 on 8/1/2008 4:50:49 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
don't think anyone's broken the 3 minute mile yet, man

You know, theres a reason you don't see too many 100M sprinters participating in the 1600M races.

Distance running is not the same as sprinting in short bursts.

Its not far fetched to say you can run 20MPH, but to say you can for 1 mile is totally different.


By Ratinator on 8/1/2008 5:31:28 PM , Rating: 2
Not sure where you get your info from, but to do 20MPH you have to run an 11.16 100M. The world record back in 1912 was 10.6 seconds...long before 1964.

Not only that, 11.16 100M is averaging 20MPH. These sprinters are starting from a stop meaning that at there top speed you would be over 20MPH.

So lets look at a longer distance such as the 200M. Michael Johnson has the current record at 19.32 whichis an average of 23.1MPH.

You could even look at the 400M where Michael Johnson again averaged 20.6 MPH.

There are numerous instances of people running over 20MPH and well before 1964 as well.


By JustTom on 8/1/2008 8:26:33 PM , Rating: 4
Still, most people probably can't run anywhere close to 20 MPH which is how this discussion started. 20 MPH is damn fast, even in a sprint.


By Ratinator on 8/1/2008 5:20:30 PM , Rating: 3
The current 100M world record holder averaged almost 23mph for 9.72 seconds. It is not impossible.


By borismkv on 8/1/2008 5:29:49 PM , Rating: 3
And exactly how much better shape was that person in than "Most people"?

"Most people" (I quote both of the people here) cannot even come close to 20mph.


By masher2 (blog) on 8/1/2008 6:03:15 PM , Rating: 4
To be precise, I should have said, most people who are not morbidly obese, hypopituitaric, or otherwise afflicted with a speed-restraining condition, can briefly sprint at a speed between 15-20mph.


By HsiKai on 8/1/2008 6:18:05 PM , Rating: 3
Seriously, you guys need to do some basic math before you post.

To run one mile (5,280 ft) in 4 minutes you must run at a rate of 15 mph. (Because 4 goes into 60 minutes fifteen times, multiply 1 mile by fifteen.) I would so so far as to say that t