Toyota’s Personal Mobility: MWV Concept
Last month I shared research on concept products, which I worked on back in the early nineties. Ergotrans was one of them. Since, I have developed an interest in MWV, man wide vehicles, such as the Toyota PM, Personal Mobility, featured in the above picture.
“The PM is a personal mobility vehicle that “fits like a glove” to create a feeling of unity between the driver and the vehicle. Cutting-edge vehicle-to-vehicle communications technologies are employed under the concept of “meeting, linking and hanging out together”.
With that kind of a description, perhaps Toyota should think of renaming it as SNT, social networking transport :-) As a matter of fact, Toyota’s concept calls for PMs to be able to locate other nearby PMs. Interestingly enough, PM drivers can let another PM driver take the lead, e.g. adopting a train like type of formation for group rides (this might come in handy for your morning commute, a kind of a next gen version of ride-sharing).
The dashboard displays the usual data as well as location and position information, and the paths of nearby PMs, as well as all kinds of imaginable infotainment. The PM’s GUI relies on a virtual interface that appears to float in midair, infrared sensors detect your fingertips’ movements.
- Length: 5.74-8.69 feet (1.75-2.650 m), depending on position of cabin
- Width: 4.81 feet (1.47 m)
- Height: 3.99-6.09 feet (1.22-1.86 m)
- Wheelbase: 3.61-6.56 feet (1.10-2.00 m), depending on position
- Minimum turning radius: 3.94 feet (1.2 m), in entry/exit mode
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Entry/Exit mode – the cabin is upright and its length is minimized. The wheels happen to be independent of one another, so the PM can turn in place.
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Urban ride – the cabin tilts back, being able to maneuver on narrow streets.
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Highway ride – the cabin morphs to its lowest posture to increase stability and comfort.
José de Francisco Lopez 
Chicago, 03 July 07
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This blog’s Long Tail:
- NextFest
- Ergotrans
- Google & BMW
- Visual Futurist
- Design concepts: future cars
- Next gen Prius
- Audi Design Foundation
References and picture credits:
Consultaglobal’s Innovation Search Engine
I wish they would add a few of those features to the FJ. Time for an FJ GUI.
Oliver
Webmaster
Toyota http://www.FJCruiserOwners.com
Toyota FJ Cruiser Community Free Manuals & FJ Movies
December 31, 2007 at 12:05 pm
sounds very cool, i like these tools a lot!
Toolbe Webmaster Seo Search Engine
January 24, 2008 at 5:59 am
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benito ingram
July 15, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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robert coleman
July 15, 2009 at 7:01 pm
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marco campbell
July 15, 2009 at 7:02 pm