Roll Like Professor X in the Segway S-Pod Hoverchair

If the Axiom from WALL-E is your idea of Utopia, we have good news: Segway’s new S-Pod, unveiled at CES 2020, brings us one step closer to your step-free ideal world.

The S-Pod brings Segway scooter-like functionality to the seated. It works on the same principle as the stand-up Segway scooter in that it balances on a single axle. Instead of leaning, the S-Pod user (occupant? driver? lucky SOB?) directs it with a control knob. Segway says the chair cannot tip over, though the photos show small, possibly retractable wheels at the front and rear. The control pad is detachable, allowing the S-Pod to be operated remotely—because if you’re going to drive around in your chair, it seems absurd that you should have to walk to get to it.

Performance is anything but relaxed: Segway says the S-Pod has a top speed of nearly 25 mph and a range of 43.5 miles on a charge. Does that qualify it as a minimalist electric car? We’d like to think so, but Segway insists the S-Pod is meant to be used on closed campuses.

While the S-Pod immediately made us think of WALL-E–style hoverchairs—or maybe Professor X’s chair—Segway says the inspiration for the S-Pod was actually the Gyrosphere from the film Jurassic World—perhaps not the image they want to convey given how that particular scene ended. We will definitely be test-driving this baby at CES this week. All we need is a cheeseburger in a cup and our lives will be complete.

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