Futuristic Trick Stick Wins Toyota’s Idea Expo 2003
Transport solutions don’t come much cleaner or leaner than the Trick Stick, an ultra-simple machine that has taken top honours in the annual Idea Expo, hosted by Toyota Motor Corporation in Toyota City on Sunday (4 October). True to its tradition, the event showcased some of the wilder – but working – inventions produced by members of the Toyota Engineering Society (TES). The 26 finalists ranged from cars that run on air to machines that can change their shape to suit different situations.
The Trick Stick is the brainchild of Koji Suwa and resembles a cross between a walking stick and the smallest of micro-scooters. It weighs just two kilos, but can carry an adult rider. Its versatility extends to a remote control function which the owner can activate using his or her mobile telephone.
The Expo’s Gold Prize was awarded to the I-Waver, another scooter-like concept that moves on a single barrel shaped wheel and is balanced using a gyroscope. Resembling a street-going jet ski, the I-Waver can be ridden standing up or sitting down.
The Yoyo de Go took the Silver Prize. This simple go-kart machine is propelled by the driver using a single rope fed through a pulley system to the rear axle.
The Step Board has no steering wheel, accelerator or brakes. Instead, this Bronze Prize winner is controlled simply by the rider shifting his or her body weight around a circular platform. Different positions activate different functions in a form of ‘driving’ that is like a one-man game of Twister.
The Idea Expo has been running every year since 1976 and is enthusiastically supported by the 31,000 TMC employees who are members of TES. The society is an informal group, established to help improve its members’ technical skills and contribute to the development of technology, engineering and inventiveness within TMC.
Inventions for the Idea Expo are created during members’ spare time, but costs are paid for by TES and supporting businesses. This year, in addition to the main competition, there was also a Go Go Egg race in which contestants had to design and operate a “battle car” to transport an egg safely over a 30-metre obstacle course. On the day, children were able to create their own “battle cars” from kits to take part in the race.
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