We saw this new concept from Toyota on You Tube and were intrigued by the design for this new battery-powered personal transport device. Toyota is offering the Winglet personal transport in three variations. They are simply referring to them as the model S, M and L, for small, medium and large.

The Toyota Winglet is being touted as the Segway killer. It could indeed accomplish this if the functionality is better and the price lower than the $5000 Segway. Prototype versions were recently shown in Tokyo, but they are still in the development stages. Rumor has it that Toyots has targeted 2010 for a product launch.

Toyota’s blog refers to the Winglet as a personal transport assistance robot ridden in a standing position. The Winglet is does indeed fit that description. Toyota maintains that anyone can learn to ride it, including elderly persons. That is the part that I think we would like to see. I personally think that most elderly persons would find the devices as foreign to learn as a skateboard, but I could be wrong. The L model is the only version with a handle that can be steered, so I suspect that this is the version that will target the aging population.

The Winglet models were created by Toyota’s robotics development division, which was acquired from Sony last year. The Winglet can do 3.7 mph (6 km/h), which is about the same speed as a person walking. That doesn’t quite compete with the Segway, which does slightly more that 12 mph. It is cannot be used throughout the day without recharging. The cruising range for the S model is rated at 3.1 miles (5 km), while the M and L models are rated at 6.21 miles (10 km). Charging time for all models is 1 hour.

Although the idea is very slick and interesting, Toyota will probably have to improve the cruising range and speed before the Winglet is considered to be practical.

Check out the You Tube video to see the Toyota Winglet in action.