News

Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.
fuRo (the Future Robotics Technology Center at Chiba Institute of Technology)

・Transforms in accordance with the situation! Equipped with intelligent safety built on robotics technology! This is the personal mobility device of the future.
・Ultra-compact vehicle can change its form to suit a wide variety of uses by all ages, from youth to active seniors!

Aisin Seiki and fuRo (the Future Robotics Technology Center at Chiba Institute of Technology) (General Manager: Takayuki Furuta) have collaborated on the planning and development of a new personal mobility device, "ILY-A." ILY-A is designed to be the smart one-person vehicle of the future, and can be transformed in accordance with the generation of the user, from youth to active seniors, and to suit a wide range of transport and activity needs.

ILY-A is an ultra-compact three-wheeled electric vehicle for a single person. It can be transformed into four forms for a wide variety of applications. While nearly as compact as an infant stroller, it is equipped with newly developed "intelligent safety" based on robotics technology, which recognizes suddenly appearing human or inanimate obstacles whether they are still or in motion, and automatically slows down the vehicle and controls braking.

Safe and user-friendly, ILY-A broadens the user's range of activity. Aisin Seiki and fuRo developed this futuristic vehicle to contribute to the realization of a society in which people of all generations, from youth to active seniors, can be active participants. The goal is to establish ILY-A as a lifestyle-aiding device that broadens users' range of activity significantly.

ILY-A is scheduled to be exhibited and demonstrated at Milan Design Week 2015, one of the world's largest design-related shows, which will take place from April 14 to 19, 2015, in Italy.

(Main Features)

■Transforms into four forms: Vehicle Mode, Kickboard Mode, Cart Mode, and Carry Mode.
・Transport, sports, exercise, shopping, mobility assistance... This one vehicle covers a truly diverse range of applications.
・Innovatively reforms current concept of short-distance mobility to integrate bicycle, scooter for seniors, infant stroller, shopping cart, and kickboard

■Safety backed by leading-edge robotics: Ultra-compact personal mobility device is equipped with intelligent safety built on the robotics technology
・Detects whether obstacles are still or in motion, and controls vehicle speed
・Equipped with intelligent self-diagnosing surveillance feature that constantly monitors ILY-A's own "health" and checks for system abnormalities.

■Features "Carry Mode" so it can be transported anywhere
・Carry Mode makes it easy to fold up and carry ILY-A anywhere. Use in conjunction with other means of transport such as train or car, and widen the scope of utilization.

■Global debut scheduled at Milan Design Week 2015, the world's largest design-related exhibition
・ILY-A is scheduled to make its global debut at Milan Design Week 2015, the world's largest design-related show (April 14-19, 2015), where it will be exhibited and demonstrated in the Aisin booth.

Development Concepts
"Forever youthful,""The same as always, only better,""Whatever the situation," "Having fun and looking great." This is the picture of future lifestyles painted by Aisin, which offers a device that establishes a new relationship between people and mobility.

Division of Duties

AISIN
Creation of value - Market launch
Product planning / design, development of technologies for volume production
Product development for commercial launch (materials, cost reduction)

fuRo
Development of leading-edge robotics technologies
Core unit design/development, control technologies / intelligent technologies
Prototype development (technologies for practical application)

Mobility Device Name

ILY-A

"ILY" is an acronym for "Innovative Life for You," and "A" stands for Active.
As the name expresses, ILY-A is a personal mobility device that supports an active lifestyle.

Transforms into Four Modes

　What are the most common modes of short-distance transport in cities today In Japan, the bicycle predominates, while older residents may use mobility scooters and young people may favor sporty kickboards or skateboards. Meanwhile, homemakers may push shopping carts, parents push strollers, and elderly people who have difficulty walking may rely on pushcarts. Our urban environments are home to a truly diverse range of vehicles and assistive devices, each adapted to a different situation.
　Now, we believe the time has come for all of these modes of mobility to be merged and reconfigured in a single device that stays by people's sides as a reliable partner for all manner of activities and blends into contemporary lifestyles and culture, so that people of all ages can enjoy more comfortable and active lifestyles. That single device is ILY-A, transforming into four different forms so as to meet a full range of mobility needs: transport, sports and exercise, shopping, physical therapy, and more.

Intelligent safety, intelligent self-diagnosis and monitoring features, and maneuvering assistance features
"The higher the technology, the greater the safety, simplicity, and security that can be achieved."
ILY-A is equipped with intelligent safety, intelligent self-diagnosis and monitoring features, and maneuvering assistance features based on advanced robotics technology. It aims to offer personal mobility to people of all generations, with different functions in each mode that make it a lifestyle partner for all sorts of situations.

・Intelligent safety features
With sophisticated robotics technology and real-time mapping employing a laser sensor under the steering handle, ILY-A assesses the surrounding environment and exerts intelligent speed control. When there are many obstacles, such as in crowds, it automatically slows down, and when a collision is imminent it automatically activates the brake and stops.

・Intelligent self-diagnosis and monitoring features
Is the control joypad functioning correctly Is the drive system OK How about the computer system and distributed communication system ILY-A continually monitors and diagnoses its own systems, and if it senses an abnormality, it swiftly activates the emergency brake and prevents potential accidents before they occur.

・Maneuvering assistance features
In Kickboard Mode, ILY-A controls the wheels so as to automatically toggle between human-powered and motor-driven motion. In Cart Mode, left and right are reversed on the joypad for intuitive steering. ILY-A is equipped with a range of other maneuvering assistance software that precisely tailors its handling to the flow and behavior of people in the vicinity.

(Specifications)

Basic body specifications
Total length/width: 965 [mm] / 440 [mm]
Drive system: 3 wheels in total (drive wheels: 2, passive wheel: 1, drive wheel size: 14")
Maximum speed: 10 kph

Features

Transforms into four forms: Vehicle Mode, Kickboard Mode, Cart Mode, and Carry Mode.

・Intelligent safety features
Stops automatically when detecting an obstacle in its path
Automatically slows down in response to surrounding environment

・Intelligent self-diagnosis and monitoring features
Automatically monitors and detects steering system wiring abnormalities and disconnections
Automatically detects drive system wiring abnormalities and disconnections
Automatically detects other system abnormalities
Goes into emergency mode when appropriate to protect operator

・Intelligent LED face
Programmable full-color LED bar system
Display that conveys detected obstacles
Display varies depending on mode

・Method of operation
Analog slide pad

・Obstacle detection
Laser scanner (detection range: surrounding field up to 5 [m]

・Maneuvering system changes depending on mode

・Main unit control system
Distributed management and control

Main elements of distributed management and control system

Wheel control:Multiple microcomputer system (implemented with cruise control system, mode switch system, and a range of monitoring features)

Programmable LED:Color, on/off cycle length, and light-up position can be controlled using an independent microcomputer