Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility
Encyclopedia
The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (PUMA) is an experimental electrically powered road vehicle
created by Segway
and adopted by General Motors
as a concept vehicle representing the future of urban transportation. It operates on two wheels placed side-by-side, a layout that differs in placement from motorcycle
s which instead have their two wheels placed at the front and rear.
The PUMA design transfers the two-wheeled self-balancing characteristics of a Segway PT
into a vehicle that can carry two passengers side-by-side at up to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s) for a distance of up to 35 miles (56.3 km).
Segway's CEO and President, James D. Norrod claimed that the use of General Motors' sales network worldwide could allow for PUMA sales to exceed the number of Segway PT models sold to date.
. Norrod stated that using a "Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
" size of lithium-ion battery would give the PUMA a range of 35 miles (56.3 km), and could be recharged in about three hours at a cost of $0.35 US dollars. The prototype weighs approximately 300 pounds (136.1 kg).
(GPS) determined position to avoid crashes with other vehicles; the position would be transmitted to other vehicles using a communications technology. With all of the vehicles knowing their whereabouts, it would allow each car to drive itself to avoid obstacles including other vehicles and pedestrians. The developers claim that crash-avoidance systems would obviate the need for airbag
s and would include seat belt
s exclusively for "comfort purposes".
The limited top speed would prevent the use of the vehicle on highways and other roadways with a speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). Initial uses might include college campuses and other locations where traditional passenger cars and trucks are limited.
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
created by Segway
Segway Inc.
Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA is the manufacturer of a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle, the Segway PT, invented by Dean Kamen...
and adopted by General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
as a concept vehicle representing the future of urban transportation. It operates on two wheels placed side-by-side, a layout that differs in placement from motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s which instead have their two wheels placed at the front and rear.
The PUMA design transfers the two-wheeled self-balancing characteristics of a Segway PT
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
into a vehicle that can carry two passengers side-by-side at up to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s) for a distance of up to 35 miles (56.3 km).
Segway's CEO and President, James D. Norrod claimed that the use of General Motors' sales network worldwide could allow for PUMA sales to exceed the number of Segway PT models sold to date.
Prototype
The first public prototype was demonstrated in April 2009, being formally announced by Segway and General Motors in advance of its display at the New York International Auto ShowNew York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in New York City in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Sunday after Easter...
. Norrod stated that using a "Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
Neighborhood electric vehicle
A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is a U.S. denomination for battery electric vehicles that are legally limited to roads with posted speed limits as high as depending on the particular laws of the state, usually are built to have a top speed of , and have a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lbs...
" size of lithium-ion battery would give the PUMA a range of 35 miles (56.3 km), and could be recharged in about three hours at a cost of $0.35 US dollars. The prototype weighs approximately 300 pounds (136.1 kg).
Safety
One idea proposed is that the vehicle would make use of its Global Positioning SystemGlobal Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
(GPS) determined position to avoid crashes with other vehicles; the position would be transmitted to other vehicles using a communications technology. With all of the vehicles knowing their whereabouts, it would allow each car to drive itself to avoid obstacles including other vehicles and pedestrians. The developers claim that crash-avoidance systems would obviate the need for airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s and would include seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
s exclusively for "comfort purposes".
The limited top speed would prevent the use of the vehicle on highways and other roadways with a speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). Initial uses might include college campuses and other locations where traditional passenger cars and trucks are limited.
Technology
The vehicle uses Segway's dynamic stabilization technology to maintain balance across two parallel wheels while driving. In addition to the main driving wheels at each side of the vehicle, there are small stabilizing wheels at both front and rear to support the vehicle whilst parked and to limit the maximum leaning angle.See also
- General Motors EN-VGeneral Motors EN-VGeneral Motors EN-V is a 2-seat urban electric concept car jointly developed by Segway and General Motors that can be driven normally or operated autonomously....
- BMW Mega City Vehicle
- VisLabVisLabThe Artificial Vision and Intelligent Systems Laboratory of the University of Parma is the artificial vision research laboratory of University of Parma, Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione....
, and their VIACVIACVIAC, the VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge, is the challenge conceived by VisLabas an extremetest ofautonomous vehicles.It ran from July 26, 2010 to October 28, 2010, involving four driverless vehicles driving with...
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- MIT Media LabMIT Media LabThe MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
CityCarCity Car (Concept)The CityCar or MIT CityCar is an urban all-electric concept car designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. The project was conceived by the late William J. Mitchell and his Smart Cities Research Group. It is now led by Kent Larson, Director of the at the Media Lab...