www.servomagazine.com/index.php?/magazine/article/march2012_Robytes
Urban Scooterbot Introduced
Last December, Japanese venture company
Kowa-tmsuk ( kowatmk.co.jp) used the Tokyo Motor
Show as a launch pad for Kobot, described as a
"foldable robot scooter." We're struggling to see
what is all that robotic about it, but presume it
refers to the driver's ability to use a smart phone to
remotely tell the vehicle to fold its seat and rear
wheel into the body. This results in a footprint of
only a square meter which could be an advantage
when parking in extremely crowded city streets.
With a top speed of only 30 kph ( 18 mph), it seems
more likely to cause traffic jams than to alleviate
them. But, hey, it's sure cute. Shown is the single-seat configuration, but a two-seater is in the works.
Company President Yoshito Serita observed, "They
are unique vehicles designed to be super-small,
super-zippy, and full of playful spirit." He also
surmised that Kobots represent "the future of urban driving." Didn't we hear something like that about Segways, personal
zeppelins, and rocket belts? SV
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SERVO 03.2012 9
