Segway

​Since rolling onto the scene in the early 2000s, Segway hasn't been afraid to make modifications to its self-balancing two-wheelers in search of other practical applications. Loomo is the latest to be wheeled out and sees the Segway take the form of both mobility option and robotic assistant.

​It might not have taken off with the general public in the way its creators hoped, but the Segway did find fans in the security industry. The Nimbo unveiled at CES this week stretches this relationship into the era of autonomous robots, using artificial intelligence to nip threats in the bud.

​At an event in Seoul, Korea, Segway has launched four new products for Asia Pacific markets. They include two new hands-free self-balancing scooters, which appear alongside a Ninebot-branded kids' bike and kickscooter.

With the One S1, Segway appears to be targeting even more niche markets with a single-wheel design that, although self-balancing, the company warns "is not for everyone" and takes some skill to ride.

Segway has unveiled the Ninebot by Segway miniPRO personal transporter. Knee control bar aside, it's a hands-free, two-wheeler with lean-to-go and -steer functionality.​

In large supermarkets carrying thousands of goods, even employees can have trouble remembering where everything is. That's why Toronto's 4D Retail Technology Corp. developed the stock-taking, store-mapping 4D Space Genius robot.​

Segway is bringing a little robotics into the mix in an attempt broaden the appeal of its urban vehicles. The Segway Robot builds on the company's approach to self-balancing personal mobility by converting into a robotic helper once you hop off.

Segway has announced that its family of patrol vehicles is about to get a new member. Developed for the security, law enforcement, emergency response and military markets, the new SE-3 Patroller differs from its self-balancing stablemates in that it has a third wheel out front.

Honda’s UNI-CUB β deduces its instructions using a combination of complex though known technologies, but the experience of riding it is one of telepathically controlling the tiny transportation appliance. It seemingly possesses a direct vehicle-brain-interface, with a “degree of difficulty” of ZERO.

The race is on amongst the mobility companies for the missing link – the smallest, lightest manpackable form of transport man can conjure and the Yikebike stakes its claim.

The ongoing development of vehicles offering two modes of transport was a key trend evident at Auto China last week. Personal transportation needs are changing and Geely and BMW are the latest to demonstrate cars with inclusive last-mile transport.

TILTO is a home-built, electrically powered, single-person, self-balancing vehicle.