Probably I'm being a touch too cynical here, but generally when companies borrow design cues, they come from highly successful products. Sure the Segway has managed to get something of a foothold among certain groups, but the product is rarely considered much more than a niche device, despite the highly successful viral marketing campaign that proceeded it.

Still, looking at Toyota's new Winglet "personal transport assistance robots," it's hard not to concur with Jalopnik's assessment that the devices have borrowed more than a few notes from the scooter company.

The Japanese car manufacturer is looking to bring three Winglet models to market, the "S," "M," and "L" (that's a their names in ascending height order, get it?). The company is currently in the process of testing the devices, in order to, "gain feedback during the Winglet's lead-up to practical use."

Toyota is hoping to introduces the transportation robots for the aforementioned "practical use" by 2010