Winglet

Almost a year ago, I posted some thoughts about the Segway. The Segway brigade came down on me like a ton of bricks, defending the marvel that costs more than a decent quad bike. Now, the Japanese have finally come up with a similar concept. It’ll be introduced gradually and is bound to be a hell of a lot cheaper than Kamen‘s expensive toy. The Winglet, in sizes S, M and L was launched by Toyota in Tokyo a few days ago.

Dubbed Personal Transport Assistance Robot, three models are currently on offer. Depending on the dexterity of the pilot, these models offer varying handling characteristics – basically your scooter and superbike concept, though these electrics will zip along at a very reasonable and sedate pace.

Later this year, the Winglets are supposed to go on large-scale trials in Japan to determine their usefulness and usability in crowded environments.

May I offer you some Ginger with that Winglet, sir?