BEDFORD, N.H. -- AUG. 9, 2007 -- Segway Inc. today announced that John Wayne Airport has purchased two Segway® Personal Transporters (PTs) that the Orange County Sheriff's Department is now using to patrol the airport's concourses and terminal. The Segway i2 Police units will help the department respond quickly to emergencies and enhance patrol coverage of all interior environments. Thirty airports in North America now use Segway PTs for security applications, including eight of the 16 busiest. In the first six months of 2007, Segway increased its worldwide airport and rail station customer base by 46 percent, and boosted its overall police and security customer base by more than 100 percent. Segway now has 500 police and security customers worldwide.
According to Alan L. Murphy, Airport Director at John Wayne Airport, the Segway PTs have several characteristics that the airport was looking for in a security solution. "The Airport is always working to improve passenger safety and security," said Murphy. "We spent a significant amount of time researching the Segway PT--visiting other agencies that use them, asking questions about their effectiveness and testing the unit in action. Overall, we believe that this is a sound investment. We found that the Segway PT offers impressive maneuverability and takes up minimal space, making it an ideal option for our very busy terminal complex."
"The Segway PT allows our Airport Police Officers greater mobility for responding to calls, improves visibility by providing an elevated vantage point, and enables officers to cover more area in less time," said Captain Dennis DeMaio of the Airport Operations Division of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. "On emergency calls, the units provide for rapid response to incidents and allow our officers to arrive fresh and ready to take appropriate action. We have already realized the benefit of improved response time to our passengers."
John Wayne Airport purchased the units from the Segway Authorized Dealer, Segway Orange County. "John Wayne Airport now joins other major airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam's Schiphol in choosing Segway PTs for their security needs," said Chip MacDonald, Director of the Police/Security Sector for Segway Inc. "We are honored to have Orange County's John Wayne Airport as a customer. The Segway PTs will help the Sheriff's Department provide a safe and secure environment for airport passengers."
Segway PTs are self-balancing, even when standing still, and take up no more space than the average adult. This makes them an ideal patrol tool when moving through airport crowds, or in and out of tight spaces such as doorways and elevators. With the exception of battery recharging there is no regular maintenance required on the Segway PT, and battery recharging can be accomplished at any standard electrical outlet without removing the batteries from the unit. Airport customers also appreciate that Segway PTs use no gasoline and give off no emissions during operation. Because the product is electric, battery recharging costs are extremely low -- approximately 25 cents per day.
The Segway i2 Police units purchased by John Wayne Airport are the newest generation models. The i2 model has a range of up to 24 miles, a top speed of 12.5 m.p.h. and a payload of 260 lbs. The i2 Police includes a handlebar bag for gear, an accessory bar for lights and sirens, reflective police/security labels, comfort mats, an LED taillight, and cargo frames that double as lift handles.
About Segway Inc.
Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway® Smart Motion(tm) that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway® Personal Transporter (PT). Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move.
Segway markets a full line of Segway PTs that are 11 times more energy efficient than the average American car. The company's line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.
Segway Inc. has a worldwide distribution network of more than 250 retail points in 61 countries. For additional information about Segway and to find retail locations, please visit www.segway.com or call 1-866-4SEGWAY. Media materials and digital images are available at the Segway Press Center at www.segway.com/news.
