Future of Scooters
MIT RoboScooter
MIT Media Lab's RoboScooter prototype is entirely electric, with at least one lithium-ion battery pack that can be swapped out for another, fully charged on. It can also folded up for easy transport. The RoboScooter's biggest innovation however â€" one with the real potential to change the state of urban transportationâ€"is on the assembly line. “A traditional internal combustion vehicle might have 1200 to 1500 parts,†says William Mitchell, director of the Smart Cities research group and a professor of Architecture & Media Arts and Sciences. “RoboScooter has 150.†RoboScooter should be available in Asian markets in about a year.
Trend Themes
1. Electric Scooters - The MIT RoboScooter prototype showcases the potential for electric scooters to become a popular mode of transportation in urban areas.
2. Battery Swapping Technology - The RoboScooter's lithium-ion battery pack swapping system presents an opportunity to disrupt the electric vehicle industry by addressing charging infrastructure challenges.
3. Simplified Assembly Processes - With only 150 parts, the RoboScooter highlights the potential for streamlining manufacturing processes and reducing costs in the scooter industry.
Industry Implications
1. Urban Transportation - The RoboScooter's innovative features offer opportunities for technology companies to provide eco-friendly and efficient solutions for urban mobility.
2. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing - The battery-swapping technology incorporated in the RoboScooter creates potential disruption in the electric vehicle manufacturing industry by simplifying the charging process.
3. Scooter Manufacturing - Simplifying the assembly process with fewer parts, as demonstrated by the RoboScooter, could revolutionize the scooter manufacturing industry by enabling cost-effective production.