New Scooter Tech... The Winglet.

Toyota has developed a motorized, stand-up-and-ride scooter similar to the Segway, It is designed to help people move about in public places. Toyota came up with this only a year after taking control of Sony's robotics business but they have no plans to turn it into a commercial product just yet. Toyota will start testing the Winglet later in the year at a few Japanese airports and a resort complex, And next year at shopping malls in and around Japan which is to get user feedback. Overseas tests are undecided at this stage.

However, the Winglet is probably not up to the same standard as the American made Segway in speed or ruggedness. The Winglet goes up to 6 km/h, about the same speed as pedestrians and far slower than the U.S.made Segway which can travel up to 20 km/h.

Toyota officials say that anyone can ride it with some practice, including the elderly, Which is its major target buyer.

Toyota envisions a future in which the Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it can relay shopping information at shops, even move on its own to recharge the batteries, or even collect the owner when summoned.

The machine is designed to respond almost intuitively, It will move forward when you lean to the front and turning when you sway to the right or left. One of the three models shown comes with a handle that can be grabbed and used the same as you would use a steering wheel. It stops easily with little pressure, pivots full-circles and travels smoothly over bumps on roads.
Winglet, which runs on electricity, goes about 5 kilometres on one charge.

The smallest version of Winglet weighs only 9.9 kilograms and can be folded up to be carried on buses, trains or packed in car trunks, Not much use to the elderly then really is it? Ok for the quick trip to the supermarket but otherwise the elderly are probably better off with the good old mobility scooter.