ITRI West Europe

ITRI, SYM, and MIT built the concept motorcycle together (from left to right, W.J. Shay, Director of Creativity Laboratory ITRI, T.J. Du, Director of the Department of Industrial Technology MOEA, C.S. Lee, Director of ITRI, K.W. Huang, President of SYM, and MIT Prof. Mitchell)

The "Next Consortium" of ITRI presented the RoboScooter on the 29th that was a new concept motorcycle created by the Creativity Laboratory ITRI, SYM, and MIT Media Lab with the features of environmental protection, power-saving, lightweight, foldable, and easy to park in compliance with the plea of power-saving and -low CO2 in Metropolitan. This project is supported by the Department of Industrial Technology MOEA and with a great success to show for.

Mr. C.S. Lee, Director of ITRI, said that Taiwanese businesses must stay away from the concept of "price war" and walk towards "value-added" goal to swim in the "blue ocean" business world. Realize the collaboration between domestic industry and international and research institute by the Open Innovation of Next Consortium and the integrated energy of ITRI and MIT. The cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary team and SYM have worked together to help industry break away free from conventional thinking to figure out new opportunities as a result of the lifestyle change from the viewpoint of humanity and social demand; also, to develop new transportations in compliance with the needs of Metropolitan. It has helped not only activated technology innovation and application for the new era of SYM's concept motorcycle but also set a good successful example to the industry. Moreover, it is the first successful collaboration of "Next Consortium" with MIT Media Lab.

Mr. K.W. Huang, President of SYM, said that SYM had the energy for creativity and innovation constructed within R&D Center by joining Next Consortium. For fulfilling the responsibility of a global citizen, SYM has focused on resolving the commutation problem in Metropolitan including traffic congestion, scarcity of parking spaces, pollution, and high gasoline price. SYM has worked with Creativity Laboratory ITRI and MIT Media Lab to build RoboScooter for the solution of commutation in Metropolitan. This concept motorcycle is not only foldable and lightweight but also can be used with other transportations and Metropolitan system since the design of omni-directional wheels is with minimized components used; also, the replaceable green battery gives a diversified recharge concept and technology. The integrated applications and services will help improve the commutation of individuals in Metropolitan and make life more enjoyable. SYM plans to have market launched gradually and hopefully consumers will be able to enjoy the fashionable and environmental RoboScooter by the second half of next year. It does rely on the support and guidance of government in the infrastructure and production incentive in order to have the environmental RoboScooter become the personal transportation of new generation.

W.J. Shay, Director of Creativity Laboratory ITRI, said that Next Consortium would continue to help improve the homogeneous communication and cooperation of cross-disciplinary businesses for the energy of innovation and creativity to flow within each organization and to lead industry shifted from "Made in Taiwan" to "Created in Taiwan." Share the experience and knowledge that was collected in the last three years with the industries so they can access to the creativity and innovation information from the real world and practice. Assist industry to breakthrough in innovation by the cross-disciplinary cooperation, the establishment of creativity atmosphere, the realization of Value Zen Espresso, and special project of product concept innovation or new business opportunity exploration. The special projects of Next Consortium include "Living in Fun," "Metropolitan Power-saving Commutation System," "Sub-tropical Metropolitan Life," and "senior citizen's life support." The industries with vision and courage are welcome to join us and we intend to gather more creative talents domestic and foreign to activate economic development in Taiwan and to welcome the arrival of creativity economy era (Please visit NC ITRI for details).

Note 1

NEXT Consortium: It was organized by ITRI with industry, government, academy, and research institute in 2005. In response to the industry's pursuing breakthrough in creativity and demanding cross-disciplinary integration, "NEXT Consortium" and "MIT Media Lab" have a strategic alliance formed to promote industry moving towards the vision of "Created in Taiwan" by the operating model of "diversified inspiration, risk bearing, and creativity sharing."

Note 2

Introduction of RoboScooter

1. Transportation developed according to future Metropolitan development

2. Powered with green battery and motor that is easy to replace and recharge, the lightweight body design helps improve energy efficiency and reduce noise and air pollution.

3. The foldable body design helps save parking space, easy to carry on a public transportation system or homebound; therefore, RoboScooter is easy to use.

4. Unique Robot Wheel design, integrated suspension system and the wheel is one modulated component that provides better power output with single wheel or double wheels; also, RoboScooter is easy to fix.

5. The body frame is the design concept of styling and RoboScooter does catch the eyes of bystanders. The head light design, signal light design, and tail light design gives RoboScooter a fine touch.

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