Toyota’s flair for solid, usually staid but ultimately dependable modes of transportation is taking a twist in their latest introduction of some 2-wheeled transportation options. Not a motorcycle, more like uhh – “personal transportation machine” as popularized by a certain American manufacturer. (Thanks to Akihabara News for all pictures)

Specifically, it was Segway that popularized their own version of a “personal transportation machine” – a machine that has met with not-inconsiderable success. Toyota’s version is named the Winglet, and is certainly inspired a bit by Segway’s machine. It also employs weight-shift detection , uses two side-by-side wheels supporting a step-on platform for the driver, and is a battery powered alternative for pedestrians.

From this base, Toyota built up a more robust set of specifications and choices for the consumer, starting with three different sizes, creatively named S, M, and L. These three versions differ in height and design and in the case of the “S” version, in battery capacity and range. All three versions has a cruising speed of 6 km/h – just a bit faster than a normal, 5’7” tall male’s relaxed walking pace of 4-5 km/h. It can turn on a dime (actually less, since its effective turning radius is 0 – it can turn within its own space) and its horizontal volume is the width of an A3 – sized piece of paper. An hour of charging gives you a total of 10 kilometers of cruising range (5 for the “S” version) on smooth, level ground.

Now I have nothing against these types of conveyances, but I do see a lot of work that needs to be done on the practical and infrastructural side of things, as is the case with the Segway, which was touted to replace all sorts of vehicles when it was first introduced, eventually got bogged down by usability issues, battery life problems, and adoption by certain infrastructure-poor areas (sidewalk too bumpy? Or  the Segway just a bit too big for the sidewalk?) . I’m sure Toyota is aware of the potential problems, and according to Akihabara News, they are taking steps to test various aspects of the Winglet – namely  “technical and consumer trials to gain feedback,practical tests of its utility as a mobility tool (plannedfor testing in Central Japan International Airport near Nagoya and Laguna Gamagori, a seaside marine resort complex in Aichi Prefecture, and finally testing of its usefulness in crowded and other conditions, and how non-users react to the device, to be carried out in 2009 at the Tressa Yokohama shopping complex in Yokohama City.”

Toyota’s main usage parameters also differ slightly from Segways – Toyota wants their vehicle to “help contribute to the health and comfort of future society” – the usual job description for machines in the tech and robot-mad Japan. With this as their main goal, here’s to hoping that they can get the Winglet to our shores and at a reasonable price point – it would be interesting to see these zipping around in our super-large (or super-long) shopping centers.