2008年8月4日月曜日

「トヨタ、立ち乗り型ロボット「ウィングレット」を開発中・・・」

トヨタ自動車は8月1日(米国時間)、立ち乗り型ロボット「ウィングレット」を開発中であることを発表した。同製品は2010年の早い時期に製品販売を予定しているという。

ウィングレットは、リチウム電池、および電動モーター2個を搭載している。駆動方式は、タイヤの間に搭載されているセンサーを使い、からだを傾けることによって走行することができる。時速6キロで走行可能だ。



早速、YouTubeアクセスすると、関連した映像がアップされていた。あるウィングレットの再生回数を見ると、何と「259,806」に達している。このアクセス・カウントは、突出している気がするのは自分だけではないはず・・・・

心地よいカスタマー・エクスペリエンスを求めて、Prewireブログの情報探索は続く.....

Toyota Motor annouced a new type robot " Winglett ".
If you stands at the stool on the tire and tilts a body, you can change the speed and the direction easily.According the announcement, Toyota plan to shipment in the beggining of 2010.

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".

TMC plans various technical and consumer trials to gain feedback during the Winglet's lead-up to practical use. Practical tests of its utility as a mobility tool are planned to begin in Autumn 2008 at Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) near Nagoya, and Laguna Gamagori, a seaside marine resort complex in Aichi Prefecture. Testing of its usefulness in crowded and other conditions, and how non-users react to the device, is to be carried out in 2009 at the Tressa Yokohama shopping complex in Yokohama City.

TMC is pursuing sustainability in research and development, manufacturing and social contribution as part of its concept to realize "sustainability in three areas" and to help contribute to the health and comfort of future society. Toyota Partner Robot development is being carried out with this in mind and applies TMC's approach to monozukuri ("making things"), which includes its mobility, production and other technologies. In a related development, TMC unveiled the "MOBIRO" mobility robot, designed for use in a sitting position, in 2007.

TMC aims to realize the practical use of Toyota Partner Robots in the early 2010s by furthering its robotic development and strengthening collaboration between industry, government and academia.


Toyota Develops Personal Transport Assistance Robot 'Winglet' (TOYOTA)





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