It"s called the Segway Human Transporter, but the Pentagon is drafting the two-wheeled scooter as part of a plan to develop battlefield robots that think on their own and communicate with troops.
The program is still in the research phase, so the self-balancing scooters aren"t expected to report to boot camp anytime soon. So far, university researchers armed with Pentagon funding have programmed Segway robots that can open doors, avoid obstacles, and chase soccer balls -- all without human control.
Researchers say potential applications for the robots include performing search missions on the battlefield, transporting injured soldiers to safety, or following humans around while hauling their gear.
Since the Segways retail for $3,995 and $4,495, depending on the model, new sales to the government or any other big customer could "help lower the price and let more people afford it," said John Morrell, chief development engineer for privately held Segway LLC.