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Segway Hits the Auction Block

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the battery-going-going-gone dept.

fmita writes: "Amazon.com is auctioning off 3 Segways to the public. The proceeds are to go to a foundation started by the inventor. These are the first Segways to go to the public. Since there are only three, they sure aren't cheap." Women drool over a man on a Segway.

10 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. Sudden stop? by richie2000 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I still haven't figured out what happens if you should run into something that blocks the wheels, like a curb or any random piece of debris that may be lying on the road/sidewalk. Would the Segway suddenly throw you off like a high-tech mechanical bull? Should you wear a helmet on this thing?

    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
  2. Easy to ride? by dodald · · Score: 2, Interesting
    By participating in the FIRST Edition Segway(TM) Human Transporter Auction, you agree that, if you win one of 3 auctions, you shall attend a training session conducted by Segway prior to delivery of your Segway(TM) HT
    I thought these things were supposed to be easy, and intuitive to ride. I wonder how long the training is.
    --
    101010b 2Ah 52o
  3. Liability? by SpookComix · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Since these babies aren't really released to the public yet, is the manufacturer going to assume the liability for them if they falter, crap out, or kill someone?

    Imagine some rich, lucky bastard steaming down the sidewalk in a crowded city, taking out old ladies with his 75 lb. beast and his 300 lb. fat ass. From what I remember, these initial models were more suited for mail carrying, military testing, etc.

    Also, if the toy breaks, will the manufacturer repair it? Three "someones" are gonna spend a lot of scratch on these bad boys...I hope they don't fall apart right out of the chute.

    --SC

    --
    You read fiction? I write it! Lemme know what you th
  4. why put the wheels on the side? by asmithmd1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Remind me again, why is it better to put the wheels on the sides instead of front and back like every other scooter? Sure it is possible using 3 gyroscopes, 5 computers, etc, etc. to balace but what advantage does this give you? If there is an advantage to the wheels on the sides why not add a third trailing caster to balance the thing and get rid of the gyros and computers. This is a technical solution looking for a problem

    --
    Free cell phone tracking
    1. Re:why put the wheels on the side? by aug24 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Nope, check out a definition of "differential steering" and then see why it's a Good Thing.

      Diff steering gives you a smaller turning radius (zero at zero speed), more manoeverability etc etc. Oddly enough, we were discussing this in our robotwars team this morning.

      If this *was* a technical solution looking for a problem, then all cars would be three wheelers.

      --
      You're only jealous cos the little penguins are talking to me.
  5. Segway final bid betting pool by mr.ska · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Hey, CmdrTaco, how about setting up a pool like you did for Mir's touchdown time? We all know when these bids will end, but we don't know at what price. So pick which Segway you're betting on (1, 2, or 3) and pick its final bid price. The three closest win a T-shirt or something.

    How about it? My bets:

    1. $137,550 USD
    2. $112,950 USD
    3. $114,875 USD
    I'm sure there are some CEOs, well-to-do technophiles, and even speculators that would pay that kind of cash for them. Me? I'll wait a couple of years. And then I'll buy a good bike instead. : )
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    Mr. Ska

  6. What do you do when you get there? by TechnoLust · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Will it go up stairs? If so, am I going to keep this massive hunk of metal in my cubicle? If not, am I going to trust a dinky bike chain to keep someone from stealing it?

    I guess if these things take off, I could make a fortune selling satellite tracking segway alarm systems! Put a blinking LED and a GPS tracking chip in it and sell it for a couple hundred... Anybody want to form an LLC?

    --
    "Da ist ein Technölüst in mein Unterpanten!"
  7. Segway EULA?? by starman97 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From the web page: "Additionally,
    you shall operate your Segway(TM) HT only in accordance with the guidelines provided to you by Segway."

    I guess that means no Segway/halfpipe tricks...
    But what if you do, will they take it away?
    How about if soneone takes it apart and posts the link to pictures on Slashdot??

    --
    Starman97@Gmail.com (bring it on spammers)
  8. You mean it's illegal to ride this thing? by Nikan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Just don't try to ride one of those segways away from Amazon. The Washington State Police may pull you over for riding an illegal vehicle... Washington State Patrol press release

  9. Wait for the new, improved Segway II by ch-chuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You know, I was thinking about the gyro-stabilizer system when it occured to me, instead of a two wheel, forward-backward oriented system with differential wheel speeds for steering, how about just a SINGLE BALL?? The segway could be built upon a single, large tire-rubber ball, with an enclosure around the top 75% with rollers to keep the ball in place, and driven in TWO axis at once, sort of like an upside-down, motorized track ball? That way, instead of leaning fwd or bkwrds, you could lean in any direction you want to go toward that direction. Ok, you'd need a rotor to be able to POINT the driver platform in any of 360 degrees, but something like that should be the next evolution in these things.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }