June 29, 2009 11:34 AM PDT

Japan airport starts motorized tricycle patrols

by Dave Rosenberg
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Chubu International Airport has bought several three-wheeled Toyota i-Real vehicles to be used by security and service personnel. The tricycles can operate at a top speed of 15 kilometers per hour and will carry emergency medical kits and computers that will allow airport staff to check flight schedules for passengers.

While they'r clearly not the fastest mode of transportation, I like the idea that RoboCop can tell me if my flight is on time.

(Via JapanProbe)

Follow me on Twitter @daveofdoom

Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @daveofdoom.
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by kit_plummer June 29, 2009 12:28 PM PDT
Those things are eerily like the personal scoots in WALL-E. A bit scary from the "lazy-ass human" perspective I'd say.
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by Riquez-001 June 29, 2009 3:57 PM PDT
I had a go in one about a year ago in Nagoya airport. It was called the toyota i-unit back then. & was a much more over the top space age looking thing. These are more refined for real life.
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by antuan.goodwin June 29, 2009 4:48 PM PDT
What I want to know is what's that thing dancing in the center? Homestar Runner?
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by setjeff15081947 June 30, 2009 12:41 PM PDT
Well, anything is better when the Japanese are distracted by technology. Let 'em play with their new toy; it'll keep them from doing other stuff.
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About Software, Interrupted

In "Software, Interrupted," Dave Rosenberg discusses disruption in the software market, as well as the products and services that keep business technology norms in perpetual flux.

With nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience spanning from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs, Dave co-founded open-source software company MuleSource and now serves as general manager of Hardy Way. He also happens to be a U.S. patent holder and a workaholic. Technology is his best friend and mortal enemy.

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