Iswing versus Segway
 

In the Toyoto showroom on Champs Elysees in Paris you can see the Iswing.

I saw it first time in real, and I am not very impressed.

The whole thing is very very small. When you search pictures in the www,
you see only small Japanese Girls in it...

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3403/dsc004087pf.jpg

The Wheels look smaller than Segway Wheels.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8814/dsc004076ea.jpg

A Toyota associate asked me, if i would trade my Segway against it.

My answer was: "NO."

Rob

Iswing video
 

Iswing video:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4660-11443_7...tag=cnetfd.vid

The Iswing puts another meaning of "pod" into "electripod" (electric pedestrian/electric foot).


http://segwaychat.com/forum/showthre...t=11794&page=3

Very nice video.

It's problem, too big for the sidewalk too small for the street.

The one market, and here we go again, may be mobility impaired people. A cheaper(?), Ibot type deal.

That said it look like some cool tech work.

i want one anyway, but its just a concept right?

I believe it is a concept that is slated for production.

We didn't get it here during the Dubai Auto Show (good thing!) but I have received a few questions about it.

I'd like to ride in one.

Steven

Not for me, thanks.
 

They cannot be serious about that little caster-wheel in the front. That little thing drops into a pothole and you will end up face down on the pavement. And there is no way to jump off of that thing in case this happens. They have that large useless whiling-color display panel locking your legs in the machine.

There are no many non-essential parts on the iswing that will add to the cost, use up battery power and just make it look silly.

You cannot see behind you and you cannot even turn your head to see around you. With those silly things on the side of the place where your head goes, it is like wearing blinders.

FWIW, the reporter describes the two-wheel mode as uising a "computer controller pendulem". I don't see how, even taking into account how much reporters can mangle technical stuff, that a pendulem is anything like the dynamic stabilization the Segway uses.

I think the most telling comment is when the reporter stated that he wasn't allowed to try the i-Swing. I've looked at three (3) videos of the i-Swing at shows and it has ALWAYS been run by a Toyota rep (whether contract or otherwise).

Never were there folks lining up to ride it...and getting to!

Steven

Technically, I think that is pretty close. IIRC in controls theory, a Segway does look like an inverted pendulum. To control an inverted pendulum the traditional way, the axis is fixed and the controller applies torque to hold the weight over the axis. On a Segway or Iswing the axis is allowed to move but everything else is the same from the point of view of the controller.

Stan,

your review is great!

It's not allowed to get in because most of the people won't fit.
It's not allowed to take a ride, because it's not working.
Disconcerting.

In the Toyota Showroom they have a big screen which shows a computer animated Iswing-in-action-video.
Sad that this video is not real.

Was there also a computer animated Video Segway Video in 1980??
;-))

Rob