Toyota i-REAL – Tokyo Motor Show 2007 : DigInfo

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Continuing the evolution of Toyota’s personal mobility vehicle development, which began in 2003 with the unveiling of the Personal Mobility concept car, is the i-REAL. “The concept of this vehicle is that you can use a cellphone with one hand and drive with the other and also stop easily, you can also drink at the same time as controlling the vehicle, we wanted to make a vehicle that safely allows for this.” “These are the levers used to control this vehicle, by pushing forward you accelerate and pulling back you brake, you can also brake by pressing this button on the lever, just by turning the lever in the direction you want to go, makes the vehicle move in that direction.” The i-REAL uses three wheels which at low speed shorten the wheel base allowing the passenger to maneuver through pedestrians at a similar eye level without taking up a lot of space, the wheel base extends out when traveling at higher speeds, providing better performance with a lower center of gravity and therefore more stability. “In walking mode this vehicle can go at 6 kilometers per hour, when you change it into car mode you can travel at 30 kilometers per hour.” The i-REAL also has a built-in social networking service allowing you to communicate and create a community with other i-REAL drivers nearby. A collision detection system constantly monitors the surrounding landscape using perimeter monitoring sensors, and alert the driver by vibrating or using noise, it also alerts others to its presence by using light and sound.