The Segway

[GlueGuy]

I'm with you Harv. Even at $3,000 (which is the price they "thought" it could be sold for with mass production), it's kind of pricey for the intended use. At $8,000-$10,000, it's way beyond pricey. One place where I could imagine it being used is in large factories where people need to get from one place to another relatively quickly. A few of these laying around would enable that. Don't know that it would be cost effective though.

And what's so darn good about eliminating the one little bit of exercise that most people get?

The GlueGuy

 

[GlennT]

Last night (12/6/01) the Segway was featured on TV--I think it might have been on "60 Minutes." And there was good, ol' Martha Steward sailing down the sidewalk on one. I have never had any physics (my work was in the arts and humanities) and I don't understand why the thing isn't tippy. I understand gyroscopes and such, but the Segway only weights 80 pounds and when a 150 pound or so person would lean a bit too far one way or another and extend that center of gravity, it would have to tip over. I don't care how fast the computer would react and cause the wheels to rotate to counteract the tendency to tip over. In other words, you do have to learn how to ride the thing and it's understood that you have to stand pretty darn straight in the saddle or you've got problems. Does that make sense?

 

[TxSam]

I'm no expert here but will give a stab at trying to explain. I read an article about the guy who invented the 'Segway'. One of the things he mentioned that gave him the idea for it was that the very act of simply walking is really a 'controlled fall', in that as when a person moves forward you are shifting your center of gravity forward while placing a foot forward to steady the body in that direction. I invision that the way the scooter works is that when it senses even the slightest change in orientation that the gyros feedback a voltage which causes the motors to react in the direction to 'control the fall'.

Another word on gyro stabilization. It may be the understanding of some people that the gyro in and of itself is 'holding' the object stationary. But in reality gyros are used to sense movement not control it. As a gyro is spinning, any movement, even on an infantesimal scale, generates a voltage, probably in the millivolt range that can then be used to trigger motors, or what have you, to bring the gyro back to a position where there is no longer any voltage being generated. Which, of course, only occurs when the object is completely still or balanced.

Thoroughly confused now?... Hope that helps!

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[GlueGuy]

Sam,

That's pretty close to what I imagine for it as well. In addition the on-board computer on the Segway does its calculations at the rate of 100 per second. As long as the little electric motors have enough acceleration, they should be able to keep up.

Still think it costs too much though. I also thought we were beginning to figure out that exercise is good for you... I guess I won't be an early adopter. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[GlennT]

Thanks. I still don't want one. I bet dogs would chase it.

 

[TxSam]

I wouldn't want one either. It is an interesting concept and may be of some use somewhere, at this point I think it would be a niche market type item. Of course I'm probably wrong, but I'm sure the cost would have to come down quite a bit to gain widespread acceptance.

Sam - Tractorless in Big 'D'

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Bird,

I think it is a practical way to separate capital from venture capitalists./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Al

 

[Bird]

Yeah, Al, I think you may be right./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I figure I'd give $50 for one just to play with, but don't think I'd go any higher than that./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Harv,
Who do we know that can overcome the laws and restrictions on use?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

click here for the answer.
Al

 

[PaulinSD]

With a 3 point hitch and pto.... I could mount my boom flail on it and make trimming those subdivision lots a breeze. Needs a cup holder, though.

Paul