Skip to comments.
The far-out future is here: Toyota's new concept vehicles out-do science fiction (great pics)
Yahoo News Photos ^
Posted on 12/03/2004 11:30:33 AM PST by Wolfstar
Yahoo News caption: Toyota's new concept vehicle i-unit is driven in during its unveiling in Tokyo, Dec. 3, 2004. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041203/capt.tok10312030829.japan_toyota_robots_tok103.jpg)
The i-unit, which resembles a wheelchair, is designed to help people get around. It will be displayed at an exposition in Aichi, central Japan, next year. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/cpress/20041203/capt.b120345a.jpg)
The compact sized vehicle, which runs on lithium-ion batteries, enables the passenger to move among other people in an upright position in low speed mode, while the vehicle reclines in high speed mode to lower the centre of gravity and ensure stable handling, the company said.
![](http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20041203/i/r3369296797.jpg)
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Japan; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: auto; automobile; autoshop; cars; concept; conceptcars; science; scifi; toyota; vehicle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120, 121-140, 141-160 ... 261-268 next last
To: Wolfstar
The future is now..and it's stupid!
Interesting cars but what the hell happened to my flying cars?!?! and jet packs!? and my flying car that folds up into a suitcase like on the jetsons??
To: jriemer
122
posted on
12/03/2004 12:36:09 PM PST
by
My2Cents
("Well...there you go again.")
To: RandallFlagg
It could be marketed as a replacement for, "The Jaws Of Life," because it can cut through anything to rescue trapped people. My series concern? Imagine something with that cutting power that has 0 inertia. "Hey, man, you just chopped the back end off my car. Watch where you're swinging that thing."
"Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to ... Ugh! sorry about your head, too."
Shalom.
123
posted on
12/03/2004 12:36:28 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
To: Wolfstar
Concept vehicle design is always about thinking way out on the edge. I realize that sub-sub-compact cars are street legal. But this thing is barely a wheelchair. And the only way to make it freeway legal would be to make it into - a car. That means, DMV, eye tests, coordination tests, Grandpa you almost hit that pedestrian tests? So, still no help for the elderly, but maybe the disabled?
124
posted on
12/03/2004 12:37:57 PM PST
by
sevry
To: escapefromboston
Interesting cars but what the hell happened to my flying cars?!?! and jet packs!? and my flying car that folds up into a suitcase like on the jetsons?? That's all you care about? What about the robot that will watch my kids a'la Rosie?
Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about.
Shalom.
125
posted on
12/03/2004 12:37:59 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
To: Wolfstar
Ah don't trust them kamikize furriner row-bots, no sir.
Next thing you know they'll be sellin' dirty panties from vending machines and making see-through terlits.
(oh wait, they already do...)
126
posted on
12/03/2004 12:38:41 PM PST
by
adam_az
(Nov. 3, 2004: Our Republic is Secure!)
To: cdbull23
no...MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTED.Now THAT is a smart idea.
127
posted on
12/03/2004 12:40:18 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
![](http://www.chopperware.com/godzilla54/monsters/jetjag.gif)
Here we go...
128
posted on
12/03/2004 12:42:36 PM PST
by
Preech1
(God, Bless America Please!)
To: Jonah Hex
No thanks, I'll wait for my gerwalk. A Battleoid!
I built my Revell Robotech "Vexar" 20 years ago and he has a permanent place on my desk at work. Right next to "Thoren".
129
posted on
12/03/2004 12:44:06 PM PST
by
Bloody Sam Roberts
(All I ask from livin' is to have no chains on me. All I ask from dyin' is to go naturally.)
To: My2Cents
130
posted on
12/03/2004 12:45:06 PM PST
by
jriemer
(We are a Republic not a Democracy)
To: Petronski
131
posted on
12/03/2004 12:46:29 PM PST
by
onyx
To: Dr. Zzyzx
Hope these things aren't in my future 40 years from now when I'm at the rest home.Without a doubt, practical applications of these types of concepts will be in our future. Heck, maybe some of them might even help keep us out of rest homes.
132
posted on
12/03/2004 12:46:29 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar; Petronski
I am letting Petronski speak for me in post #9.
Thanks for the ping, Wolfstar. So funny.
133
posted on
12/03/2004 12:47:44 PM PST
by
onyx
To: Chad Fairbanks
(Ping to pic.) Uh oh. Somebody's gonna be in a bad mood when he sees this...
134
posted on
12/03/2004 12:48:25 PM PST
by
DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
(I just saved money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.)
To: sevry
Apparently, those smaller robots can actually play music and musical instruments. Of course, so can other consumer products. But I suppose it might be nice to have such a robot following me around the house playing my favorite music. Then, one day, I could turn around quickly, fall over it...and need one of those i-foots or i-units to get around in.
135
posted on
12/03/2004 12:49:40 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Squawk 8888
This technology could lead to a revolution in mobility aids for the disabled, funded by the "early adopters" with money to burn on geeky toys.Hear, hear!
136
posted on
12/03/2004 12:50:12 PM PST
by
Chemist_Geek
("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
To: escapefromboston
I really, really, really want my personal flying unit.
137
posted on
12/03/2004 12:50:26 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: ArGee
Clearly, the chick with the sunglasses is controlling King Gidorah...
138
posted on
12/03/2004 12:53:02 PM PST
by
transhumanist
(Science must trump superstition)
To: onyx; cyborg; fortunecookie
If you ever see me strapping on one of those things, shoot me.
And when the alien bursts from my chest with a blood-curdling scream, shoot it too.
139
posted on
12/03/2004 12:53:30 PM PST
by
Petronski
(I'm not always cranky.)
To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
(Ping to pic.) Uh oh. Somebody's gonna be in a bad mood when he sees this...Yeah. Something tells me that the next time I see him, saying "Oh YEAH? Well, YOU can easily be replaced by a robot!" wouldn't be the smartest thing ;0)
140
posted on
12/03/2004 12:54:17 PM PST
by
Chad Fairbanks
('Hate' is just a special kind of Love we give to people who suck.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120, 121-140, 141-160 ... 261-268 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson