Getting Up Close and Personal with Segway’s New Personal Robot
Forget the Segway you knew. The next generation of this personal mobility device is smarter, smaller and, yes, cuter, than ever before.
Intel teased the bot at its CES keynote on Tuesday, but it wasn’t until the official unveiling on Wednesday that we finally get a good look at the black and white robot.
Up close, the new Segway, which was developed by Ninebot (with assists from Intel and Xioami), looks almost nothing like the original Segway. Sure, it’s got Segway’s self-balancing technology, but in a considerably smaller form-factor than the original personal transportation device. This one stands just a few feet tall. It also has what looks like a head and face with two LED eyes that seem to blink and smile. You can even add a pair of articulated arms. They plug into the back where, eventually, you’ll also be able to add other hardware accessories.
The head, by the way, can turn sideways and actually sits between your knees when you step aboard and ride the Segway. As with most hoverboards, which it does resemble, there is no handle to hold onto, but the center support probably makes it a little easier to ride than a traditional personal smartboard like the Swagway.
Make no mistake, Segway is also a true, personal robot with a programmable Android heart.
The 28-pound, fully autonomous robot is packed full of technology. Along with Intel’s Real Sense VR300 depth camera, it has a fisheye camera and night vision. There’s also a laser projector to help it navigate and map its environment. The robot even understands vocal commands and will respond in its own robotic voice. If you ask it to follow you, it will comply.
In addition to a host of sensors, Segway can act as a Smart Hub for your Internet of Things devices.
As a personal mobility device, Segway is no slouch, either, It can travel a reported 10 miles on a charge at up to 11 mph.
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, who rode the new Segway robot during his own keynote, arrived at Segway’s press conference to sing the robot’s praises.
“It’s amazingly easy to ride and amazingly fun,” said Krzanich, who revealed he already has four of the robots.
Checking out Segway’s new personal mobility robot. #ces2016 https://t.co/JvXipV7CTq
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) January 7, 2016
Segway did not let reporters test drive the robot. It’s expected to start shipping in the first quarter of 2017.