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Build Your Own Segway
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)."
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The guy that designed the segway also designed the iBot which is basically a wheelchair that can "walk" on 2 or 4 wheels. This includes the easy navigation of stairs.
Forget about copying the segway...
Copy this device! It goes for about 20k... how many people do you think can really afford this thing? This device allows wheelchair-bound people to practically walk again!
Drugs go generic... but I fear this thing will be too pricey for a long time to come.
The size of the adult bicycle wheel was developed through trial and error over a few decades. What I find interesting is that two largely seperate development trees came to much the same conclusion.
26" in America, 700c in Europe.
It's a pretty good indication that within the parameters of the problem the solution is reasonably close to optimal.
Of course if you change the parameters you change the solution. Folding bikes, for instance, generally go with 24" or 20" wheels since one of the parameters is now compact size when folded.
One of the design parameters of Segway type vehicles is that they take up a fairly small footprint, as close to a pedestrian footprint as they can get. Hence the small wheels.
Of course the smaller wheels carry certain disadvantages, as you note. Higher rolling resistence (but since you're not pedaling this may not matter much to you), less able to climb over obstacles, more likely to fall into potholes and "nibble" in cracks.
Probably the biggest detriment to the small wheels is the inherent lack of stability though. With the rider's platform hanging well below the axle line they'd have stability without the gyroscope. You can buy toys for parakeets made like this. Kind of like Weebles with Wheels. (In fact that would make a good name for a "motorcycle gang" mounted on these).
Before the turn of the century there were actually a number of commercial bicycles sold that were built on this same layout.
They don't work as well as a nice folding bike though. That's why you don't see them anymore but a number of manufacturers will sell you a folding bike.
You "recharge" a folding bike with pizza, which is rather pleasant, and they're much easier to take on the bus with you than a Segway like device when you get tired of pedaling.
I tend to think there will continue to be more bikes than Segways for a good while yet.
KFG
Couldn't someone create a cheap knockoff of the Segway by attaching a small shopping cart wheel to the back, and chucking all of the expensive gyros? They wouldn't even violate any Segway patents in the process.
In any event, $5,000 for a scooter is just sillyness (yes, it is just a scooter).
if(!toilet_paper) roll.replace(new roll);
"I'd rather buy 2 of his scooters than give my money to Dean Kamen."
Why? Why would you hate Deam Kamen?
He has invented dozens of revolutionary biomedical devices that have improved the lives of many people. (dialysis machines, wheelchairs, etc). Many design elements from the Segway, esp the redundent backup systems, come from his experience in biomedical devices.
Meanwhile, he has used much of the money made through this to promote engineering and technology to high school students, through the FIRST robotics competition(http://www.usfirst.org/)
This competition has raised the awareness of robotics and engineering to thousands of students, and probably a good reason why i'm studying engineering physics (with EE major) right now.
I don't see why a tech site like slashdot is so against him, when he has done so much in promoting technology to the masses.