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Build Your Own Segway

Posted by michael on from the poetry-in-motion dept.

bugbear writes "Robot hacker Trevor Blackwell explains how to build your own Segway-style balancing scooter. He says it's not that hard (but he already knows how to build walking robots)."

12 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Not Likely a Good Idea by dolo666 · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is not likely a good idea for a few reasons.

    1) Who would you send yours to if it gets recalled?
    2) How would you scrape yourself from under a bus if yours suddenly whipped you into traffic?
    3) The whole Yogic Flyer phenomena takes new meaning when you consider a home-made Segway.
    4) The ozone.

    1. Re:Not Likely a Good Idea by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot to think about the children.

      KFG

  2. I'm tempted... by r_glen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do the bans on Segways apply to this?

  3. Still not US-friendly by TACD · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't help but notice that it lacks training wheels. Guess GWB will have to wait a bit longer before he can join this 'revolution'...

    --
    Security through promiscuity is no better than security through obscurity.
  4. Is it REALLY a Segway? by pegr__ · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean, does it throw you off when the battery dies?

  5. well i've built one already by Kwelstr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I changed the configuration, and instead of using an electric motor, I made it human powered. I put the wheels front and back instead of sideways... That way I cannot get sued.

    Also, I decided to add a sit, because I don't like standing and I have eliminated the giroscopes, they are too expensive.

    Hmmmm I think I am going to call my device "the bicycle". It has a nice ring to it.

    --


    ~~~Please pass the salt, I hate unsalted MD5s :-/
  6. it's only a flesh wound by Dorothy+86 · · Score: 4, Funny
    There is no redundancy or backup system. It is not even robustly made. Loose wires literally dangle out the bottom. In the fairly likely event of the software crashing, a wire coming loose, a component failing, or the batteries running low, the wheels will lock and the entire kinetic energy of the system is used to accelerate my head toward the ground.

    Sounds like fun to me!

    --
    Game Overdrive - Gaming News
  7. I aready built one by reboot246 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I started from scratch and tried to build a better one, but I couldn't find the fancy gyros and electric motors used on the original. Funny thing though, it came out looking like a bicycle.

  8. Truly we will be advanced by Timesprout · · Score: 4, Funny

    When the walking robot climb on and ride the scooter. Oh the irony of it!

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  9. Hehe..., by DWormed · · Score: 2, Funny

    RoboteQ (the manufacturer of one of the parts) also produces parts for use in "battlebots". So, who wants to take first crack at the combination segway/battlebot?

    Besides, having a flamethrower on your segway would really help convince people to get out of your way.

    --
    Dependable, Reliable Furnishings
  10. Recall? by Syberghost · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does he include a PDF of the forms to fill out when it needs to be recalled?

  11. Re:Oh, come on... by tftp · · Score: 3, Funny
    Park a Seg for long enough, and it will fall over of its own accord. Name any other vehicle that falls prey to that.

    A horse :-)