Segway is moving forward with a new self-balancing two-wheeled chair called the S-pod. Segway will be bringing the S-pod to the Consumer Electronics Show next week for convention-goers to try out.

Segway’s original device was a two-wheeled vehicle that riders would stand on. They were easy to find in airports and malls at one point, but have since dropped out of popularity. Segways were difficult to climb on and not the most stable. The control method was unintuitive, as riders had to lean forward or backward to control the speed. The original Segway was brought to market back in 2001, almost twenty years ago. The design has been iterated upon since then with things like the Ninebot S, which removes the Segway’s handlebars and centerpiece.

Related: Tesla's Cybertruck: Unanswered Questions About Elon Musk's Cyberpunk Truck

The new S-pod looks to be a more leisurely experience. People made complaints about leg-strain after riding a Segway for long periods, so instead the S-pod has users ride it like an electronic wheelchair. The S-pod isn’t looking to replace self-powered wheelchairs, however. Its design isn’t conducive to less able-bodied individuals with its seat being half a person off the ground.

Will The Segway S-pod Stick?

 

The original Segway never achieved wide spread popularity. Outside of workspaces it didn’t manage to break into the cultural zeitgeist as anything beyond a joke. This S-pod has a design that is certainly unique, with it being reminiscent of the kind of chairs one might see in a Star Wars movie from the 1970s. Tech website Gizmodo reported that it has a range of 44 miles and can reach speeds of 25 miles per hour. Riders can ride it using a navigation panel or via joystick - no leaning required. Either control method would look comfortable on the set of a Robocop film.

The original Segway was made for able-bodied individuals who didn’t want to walk - is it really necessary that standing is taken out of the situation, too? In the twenty years since the first Segway debuted, the company has made a few other more impressive designs.  The Ninebot S is a compact, portable Segway that people can ride anywhere. The Loomo is that, but also a robot. Segways have come a far way from the clunky machines seen in Paul Blart: Mall Cop over a decade ago. This new S-pod seems could be a needless, clunky machine intended to automate something that doesn’t need to be automated. Maybe its appearance at CES 2020 will shine some light on its value and help reviewers look past its shocking design.

Next: AI Cannot Patent Their Creations Says EU Court

Source: Gizmodo