Technology
A research team of
Kyoto University developed a new single-seater 360-degree movable four-wheel
vehicle. The driver can operate this new vehicle in the same manner that he
operates an electric wheelchair. The university is looking for companies for
joint research. It can be applied to industrial purposes like unmanned
folklift, not to mention to medical purposes like wheelchair.
Named Personal Mobility Vehicle (Permoveh), it has four wheels, two of which incorporate gears
with the shape of umbrella that allows it to turn around 360 degrees. The
driver turn down the stick to the direction that he wants to travel, but
Permoveh cannot travel sideways. Permoveh weighs 200 kg, and its maximum speed
is 6 km/h. In the experiment, it climbed a 5-degree slope. The production cost
of the pilot unit was about three million yen. The team wishes to decrease the
production cost to one million yen before it is put into practical use in three
to five years.
Personal Mobility Vehicle (Permoveh) in demonstration
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