Centaur - a Four-wheeled Segway

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Centaur - a Four-wheeled Segway

Posted by michael on Tuesday October 12, 2004 @08:12AM from the you-can't-afford-it dept.

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."

28 of 309 comments (clear)

Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-12 08:13 · Score: 5, Funny

Now, if they could just make it bigger, add some room for passengers, maybe some seats and a steering wheel, I could see people use them.
1. Re:Awesome by gasp · 2004-10-12 08:26 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Looks like there's plenty of time to revise the design... Quote from the article:
  
  "When will it be available?
  At present time, Segway LLC has no plans to manufacture the Centaur."
2. Re:Awesome by Wingit · 2004-10-12 08:28 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  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.
3. Re:Awesome by WormholeFiend · 2004-10-12 08:39 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I hope they licence the technology for Hummers, for the ultimate intimidation experience of a giant SUV doing a wheelie on the freeway!
4. Re:Awesome by Jeff+DeMaagd · 2004-10-12 08:55 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Now, if they could just make it bigger, add some room for passengers, maybe some seats and a steering wheel, I could see people use them.
  
  If this were true, a lot more people would be using golf carts.
5. Re:Awesome by mikepaktinat · 2004-10-12 10:34 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Sorry, maddox already called for a 3-wheel version, he has prior-art
  http://maddox.xmission.net/c.cgi?u=segway_more_com plicated_than_it_needs_to_be
  check that out, funny as always
City Redesign by mumblestheclown · 2004-10-12 08:13 · Score: 4, Funny

Cities are being redesigned as we speak to accomodate this thing, I'm sure.
1. Re:City Redesign by Carnildo · 2004-10-12 08:17 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  This one seems to be targeted at the off-road crowd. I'm sure they'll make the neccessary changes to hiking trails in short order.
  
  --
  "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
2. Re:City Redesign by Speaker+to+Sendmail · 2004-10-12 09:04 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The appropriate changes to HIKING trails? For a wheeled, motorized vehicle? Would those be caltrops and tripwires? Or just arming the wildlife?
3. Re:City Redesign by homer_ca · 2004-10-12 09:15 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Yes, because if there's one thing every hiking trail needs, it's an electric ATV quad that can do self balancing wheelies.
4. Re:City Redesign by genner · 2004-10-12 09:30 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And it will keep it's balance and keep going. The
  whole idea is that this things untipoverable.
  It's ideal for people who are always "getting the shoulder".
"Look ma no hands!" "Wear your helmet dear!" by garcia · 2004-10-12 08:13 · Score: 5, Funny

The movie (Windows Media or Quicktime) shows someone having far too much fun riding one."

Well duh, he's trying to make up for the fact that he looks like a huge dork with that fucking helmet on. :)
So... by Tuxedo+Jack · 2004-10-12 08:14 · Score: 4, Funny

Does this mean that I could play polo off one, or play the Texas Roadkill game?

Look, a politician! Twenty points!

--

Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
More consumer confidence? by jargoone · 2004-10-12 08:14 · Score: 5, Insightful

Not that everyone has the money to shell out for one of these things, but the fact that it has 4 wheels might make people less nervous about it.

It would also lead to fewer of these incidents: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technolog y/maney/2003-06-17-segway_x.htm
Twice as many wheels by lucabrasi999 · 2004-10-12 08:15 · Score: 5, Funny

So, with twice as many wheels as the Segway, will it be twice as useless?
1. Re:Twice as many wheels by El · 2004-10-12 08:38 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  will it be twice as useless? No, it will be twices as useful! Remember 2x0=0, but you can't get any more useless than completly, hopelessly, 100% useless.
  
  --
  "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
Bush will be Happy by kai.chan · 2004-10-12 08:16 · Score: 5, Funny

Well, one good thing about this new Centaur is that it is less likely for Bush to fall off of.
Direct link to high-speed video... by swordboy · 2004-10-12 08:18 · Score: 4, Informative

Sorry about the Windows Media...

--

Life is the leading cause of death in America.
Suggestion- by Ralph+Wiggam · 2004-10-12 08:20 · Score: 5, Funny

I propose a new corporate slogan.

Segway: Solving problems that don't exist since 2001.

Think they'll go for it?

-B
In other news... by rackhamh · 2004-10-12 08:20 · Score: 5, Funny

Segway has announced a revolutionary new balance system. Code-named "kickstand", this invention is expected to revolutionize the parking process for light-weight transportation vehicles in major cities worldwide. Patent pending.
This is just great... by Dracolytch · 2004-10-12 08:22 · Score: 5, Funny

For all the geeks that don't have balance enough for a skateboard, are convinced that a scooter isn't dorky enough, believe that bicycles are generally too damn cheap, and are too lazy for any of the above.

~D

--
This sig has been enciphered with a one-time pad. It could say almost anything.
1. Re:This is just great... by cft_128 · 2004-10-12 08:53 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  believe that bicycles are generally too damn cheap
  Not the bikes that I like....
  
  --
  Underloved Movies and Pub Quiz: donotquestionme.org
What's the point? by randall_burns · 2004-10-12 08:23 · Score: 4, Insightful

The wheelchair segway was significant IMHO-I had one relative that could have benefited from it. These other vehicles just aren't living up the hype. Unlike what John Doehr claimed, cities _aren't_ going to be built around these things. Most people need to get more exercise-not more toys.
1. Re:What's the point? by Shky · 2004-10-12 08:42 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Parent is of course refering to the iBot, Dean Kamen's wheelchair which allows the user to go up and down stairs, as well as going up on the back wheels to be eye-level with people.
  
  It's pretty amazing, and like parent said, actually has a purpose. It allows people in wheelchairs to not be confined to one level of a house, or require assistance to reach things above them.
  
  --
  CC Licensed Serialized Story and Podcast: Ingenioustries
He has no need for it. by cliveholloway · 2004-10-12 08:30 · Score: 3, Funny

Isn't he on the wagon at the moment?
Thank you. I'll be hear all week.
cLive ;-)

--
-- Trinity in high heels carrying a whip: The donimatrix - there is no spoonerism
Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-12 08:37 · Score: 5, Funny

Why did you post a pic of you taking a crap on a kid's ATV?
A lot more information about the Centaur at Popsci by DocJohn · 2004-10-12 08:51 · Score: 3, Informative

See the article about Concept Centaur in next month's Popular Science magazine for more information and photos:

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/generaltech/article/0 ,20967,710982,00.html

-
Sinclair C5 - Ahead of its Time by turgid · 2004-10-12 08:57 · Score: 3, Informative

In my day, these things were going to be the next big thing. They were so ahead of their time, that French car maker Citroen saw fit to name one of their newer models after it.

--
Stick Men