Toyota thinks that they have the answer to the near-term question of personal mobility, and they’re showing it off at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

Calling their newest spin on transportation for one i-Real, Toyota is building on similar concepts PM, i-unit, and i-swing. All of these concepts have dealt with using small quick machines as an alternative to both driving and walking, in dense urban environs.

(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of i-Real images or on the jump to read more about the Toyota concept.)

i-Real’s three wheels are able to shift position as speed increases; staying relatively close together at low speed to maximize maneuverability, and spreading out as the pace increases to maintain a stable platform.

The near-human height of the machine was designed with person-to-person contact in mind, something that is much more difficult in a closed car. Designers have kept a close eye on safety as well, utilizing perimeter monitoring sensors to detect a collision before it actually happens. In case of impending doom, i-Real is programmed with electronic histrionics, launching into a fit of vibration, noise, and light to alert the driver.

With Segway’s mission gaining traction, are we likely to see more personal transports in the near future? Let others hear your voice in ‘comments’.

i-REAL
The i-REAL is a personal mobility vehicle made closely in human scale as a step toward commercialization in the near future.

* Represents the next stage of Toyota's personal mobility vehicle development, following the PM, i-unit and i-swing.
* Uses three wheels (two at the front and one at the back), in low-speed mode, shortening its wheelbase to allow it to maneuver naturally among pedestrians at similar eyesight height without taking up a large amount of space; in high-speed mode the wheelbase lengthens to provide a lower center of gravity and better driving performance.
* Ensures safe handling—both to the driver and those around the vehicle—by employing perimeter monitoring sensors to detect when a collision with a person or object is imminent and alerts the driver by emitting a noise and vibrating; at the same time, alerts people around it of its movements through the pleasant use of light and sound.