Anybody who has worked as a manager or supervisor in a large facility knows the type of wear and tear the job can take on the body.
Managers frequently have to be many places at the same time. So it’s not unusual to walk 5, 10 or even 15 miles during a single workday. At the end of the day, you can wind up with sore feet, an aching back, and the frustrating realization that you have to get up and do it all over again in the morning!
But now a Florida company has created a new personal transport device that allows managers to travel from one end of a facility to the other without taking a single step.
Gliding Around the Workplace
The futuristic device, called the Key-Roller, resembles a stripped down version of the Segue device that has become ubiquitous at large outdoor parks and city “walking” tours, only with smaller wheels and not as much bulk.
The Key-Roller — which is being offered by Keytroller Inc., of Tampa, Florida –features a pair of foot pads, a steering stick, and a small electric motor that powers a pair of wheels. An interior gyroscope maintains constant balance while the rider is on the vehicle, making it nearly impossible to fall off.
The Key-Roller operates at maximum speed of just 9 mph, making it nearly three times as fast as walking but slow enough to move safely through congested industrial spaces such as manufacturing facilities or warehouses.
It also can features pinpoint maneuverability, meaning it can turn a full 360 degrees within its own profile.
Saves Time and Physical Toll
The device is being marketed toward managers who travel large distances during any single workday as a way of saving steps and cutting down on the physical wear and tear of managing a large facility.
Like the Segue, the Key-Roller is driven by leaning into the handle to move forward, or pulling to the right or left to turn.
Each Key-Roller has a personalized electronic fob that controls who can turn the device on and off. The fob interacts with an onboard sensor, preventing anybody but authorized users from riding on the device.
It is powered by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery and has a range of five to nine miles before needing to be recharged.
Lightweight and Simple to Assemble
The Key-Roller weighs less than 45 pounds and can be assembled in just a few minutes. All that’s required is to connect the steering shaft to the transporter unit using three bolts, and the handle to the steering shaft using another two bolts.
Users are advised to check with their safety departments about whether company requirements require the use of helmets, knee and/or elbow pads while using the Key-Roller in the workplace.
While the device is high-tech, it calls back to a bygone era when workers would wear roller skates or ride bicycles to swiftly move from one end of a busy factory or office to another using nothing but gravity and people power.