Devised in response to the prototype P.U.M.A. that Segway and GM showed earlier this year, the new P.U.M.A. by designer Michael DiTullo is a segway concept that relives its predecessor with a ting of difference. Featuring a horizontal design to provide safety and comfort to the rider, the new segway breaks the form with several bone lines, leading the eye from front to back rather that top to bottom, and moves closer to the ground for a smooth ride. The two-seater segway connects more emotionally with passengers through its through form and details, other than presenting the advanced technology for brisk movement on cramped city roads.
[Thanks Michael]
I do like some parts of this design, but it cannot be applied to the PUMA.
In order to control speed, the chassis is move back and forth over the axle, and this design doesn’t allow this in any way. It has to be completely redesigned in order to make this possible.
The front-wheels are too far in, making it scrape on when standing on the slightest uneven surface. The wheels have to be fully out.
The vehicle has to be entered through the side, as the steering-wheel needs a very strong mechanical connection, in order to move the whole chassis when pushed/pulled. This is not something that should be movable, as it would increase chance of failure, and from the looks of it, this design is entered from the front. Another thing making it useless.
Also, this isn’t by Segway’s ”minimalistic” design-rules. It adds a lot of extra unnecessary bulk, and even though it doesn’t look all that bad, it’s just unpractical in all ways to this specific vehicle... I would love to see a statically-stable vehicle designed this way, though!
