This one is blowing my mind, so see if you can follow along. Toyota today announced a “partner robot” that is supposed to help carry you around. Also known as a PTA (Personal Transportation Assistant), you could think of it as a Segway with AI. It’s called the Winglet and it will come in three different models: The “L”, “M” and “S”. Why the weird naming system? I’m glad you asked:

Toyota’s 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”. If all this sounds familiar to you, it should.

Again, like I said. A “Super Segway” if you will. Expect to see them in Japan first, who knows when in America. By 2010 they should be commonplace in the Land of the Rising sun. After the jump, pictures of all three models.
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What a sweet ride! The Rasmus Gjesing ATB Tourist bicycle is the work of, you guessed it: Rasmus Gjesing. Gjesing’s company was founded 12 years ago and focuses on quality and design that tries to steer clear of the look of mass-produced bicycles.  With the ATB, everyone may think you’re riding an old bike, but that top-of-the-line Motorola MP3 helmet will make them think differently.

With that orange color and curved handlebar this bike has a retro look that makes a Commodore 64 LAN party look like the next Electronic Entertainment Expo. I’m mean, look at that seat: it’s straight out of the 70s, maybe earlier. This vintage design is quite costly, selling at $3200 dollars.

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We’ve got a major energy crisis on our hands. We need as many alternatives to fossil-fuels as possible. It’s a good thing some artist spent countless hours on this life-sized inflatable Porsche Carrera. Simply unplug it, sit on the thing and the escaping air will propel you to your destination. So long as your destination is five feet in front of you.

In an effort to increase the cars capable distance, bring a can of Pepsi and a burrito from 7-11 with you while riding in the inflatable Porsche. As soon as you’re finished your “intake” and you’ve released the car’s air, release your own flatulence and the combined forces of your body’s gas and the car deflating will propel you across the state.
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No one likes hauling ridiculously heavy bags around the airport. LiveLuggage’s Power Assisted series uses a special wheel to make your traveling a heck of a lot more lightweight. This luggage is designed to distribute 85% of the total weight directly upon the wheels, making you feel you’re only carrying a fraction of it.

The intelligent torque control powers the wheels and the pressure is applied to the handle, leading to the concentration of force sensors at the base. The tilt switch/sensors power the wheels at specific angles between 15% and 35% incline.

This torque control activates manually or automatically when necessary and in the event that you drop your luggage, it’ll automatically deactivate so your stuff won’t resist gravity and fly away.
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We’ve seen some funky looking, eco-wary transportation devices, but the “Ozone” concept takes the cake. It would run entirely on hydrogen powered fuel cells because as we all know, gasoline just isn’t cutting it anymore. The cabin of the vehicle is encased between two giant wheels that are controlled by two separate electric motors powered by the fuel cells.

I sure hope they didn’t design the cabin to roll with the wheels because that would be a dizzying experience. Controlled with a joystick as if you’re on a light cycle in Tron, the Ozone is the definitive future vehicle. It may look like a child’s toy but take notice: the doors slide 360 degree into its own frame.  That’s rad.

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A Japanese wedding planning company has teamed up with space transportation provider Rocketplane Kistler Japan. Using half-airplane, half-space shuttle transportation, they plan on hosting weddings aboard a one hour space flight that reach altitudes above 62 miles.

They’re charging a little over two million dollars for such an affair but are kind enough to include a photo and video album, original dress, wedding certificate, transportation to and from the launch site, a live broadcast of the ceremony to friends and family at a reception hall on the ground (talk about impersonal), four days of rehearsal as well as other ceremonial items and accommodations.  These services are supposed to be available sometime in 2011 and the company will already begin taking applications next month.

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Just what we need another sports utility vehicle to guzzle up the remaining fossil fuels we think we have.  Similar in design to nearly any SUV released in the last four years, the  Nagare concept car is going to be unveiled at the 2008 Moscow International Automobile Salon in late August.

Sporting monster truck tires, this SUV is sure to tear through every tree in Siberia, as that’s where it will sell well.  Nothing about this is environmentally friendly.  Al Gore would give this car two thumbs down. Where are the hydrogen powered cars?

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After seeing some totally unsatisfactory uses of the Segway, I have built up a bad taste for the user base of the personal transport device (with the exception of this dude.) It’s time that a new device took the Segway from the top rungs of popularity and laziness.

This newly designed transportation device by Sarah Park mashes together the personal transport of the Segway with a “skiing” like steering mechanism. The size of the new device is about the same as a baby stroller. If you’ve ever pushed a baby stroller, you know how it’s usually not a problem even if you’re tall, so the design factor works. The dual handlebars of this new device makes the navigation similar to both pushing a stroller and skiing down a slope. (more…)

Cycling is in the midst of a come back. With environmental fears and urban build-up making cars seem less and less like a smart transportation option, bikes are the choice of many city dwellers. The problem is that there are still way more cars than bikers, putting cyclists at risk of being run down by some disgruntled rush hour driver (notice the white-knuckled clenched hands on the pictured steering wheel).

Safe Turn is a fully-automatic turn signal for bikers which you can wear right on your wrist. When you raise your arm to show drivers you’re about to turn, the Safe Turn light automatically blinks to life, catching the attention of any driver that might be lost to tunnel vision. (more…)

The Church Tank is the brainchild of Russian artist Kris Kuksi, and you probably already guessed that it makes a statement about war in the name of religion. It’s not an actual tank, only a model measuring 8″ h 4″ w x 10″ d, but I have a feeling that a full-size version would generate a little too much drag to be practical in battle. —Sean Fallon

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