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Centaur - a Four-wheeled Segway
Mr. Protocol writes "Segway, the folks who brought you the two-wheeled wonder called the IT, have a new concept vehicle up on their website. Called Centaur, it's a four-wheeled version of the IT that pulls stable wheelies by acting like a two-wheeled IT. The movie (Windows Media or Quicktime) shows someone having far too much fun riding one."
There should be a two wheels Segway, but powered by a human. A sort of modified bicycle that allows you to pedale while in a semi-standing position. It will not cost as much as segway and there is no batteries to run out and embaress you while pulling the damn thing back home.
No, but this looks like it might actually be usable outside the city, where I live.
I can't remember the last time I saw a sidewalk.
How about a three wheeled model that seven people can ride on. Unfortunately, at least one of the riders must pedal. http://www.conferencebike.com/
We win together or suffer without.
This thing really needs to have only 1 rear wheel. Looking at it from a mountain biker's perspective, if you go over a big rock with that thing, you'll just bottom out. If the back was one wheeled, with the user platform above it, the front could be lifted for obstacles, and the rear would cruise over it. The ATV design is nice, I think it could be a cool military device for a few people, but I think a three wheel design might be able to maneuver better. Think johnny number five.
Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?
Segway can go up a curve (within reason) and while I would never do it it can go down stairs (seen it with my own eyes) and have heard of credible rumors of people going up stairs down at Segfest last weekend. All while riding. But curbs aren't much of an issue, for drastic curbs you only need to put one foot down for a little assist, and Ive also seen people do drastic curves without using the foot, however there was a lot of air time, not something I would be comfortable doing.
Forget the batteries that take hours to recharge and run down halfway home. Have a alcohol fuel cell onboard and you could fill up at the local liquor store. Or maybe a alcohol fueled micro-turbine generator for some real power.
Science is the Real TRUTH!
Does this remind anyone else of the Warthog from Halo? Throw some 4 wheel steering on this bad boy, it'd be very similar. Well, at least I think so.
It also appears to be faster, and therefore possibly actually useful. I suspect that if the segway went more that a piddly 10 Mph people might have actually warmed up to the idea despite how dorky it looks (people got used to wearing bicycle helmets, right? When they first started showing up, everyone thought they looked really dorky and now they're ordinary and mundane.) The problem with the segway as sold was that even a rather out-of-shape person can still make 10 Mph easily on a bicycle without breaking a sweat, and thus the segway has no niche.
Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.
One of the biggest mistakes Segway made with the HT was to avoid any hint of association with fun or competition. This was a deliberate and political choice, as part of their efforts to ensure that the HT would be legal for use on sidewalks.
While a good goal, this kind of thinking resulted in a vehicle with no suspension and other constraints. With zero ability to handle potholes and terrain, we saw some over-publicized injuries, and it wound up being banned in some cities anyway.
In contrast, the Centaur is designed for FUN and interesting capabilities -- I like it, and I'm cheering them on with this one! (of course I'd also like to see a lighter and more capable HT with a suspension)