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Segway Recalling 23,000 Scooters
DocJohn writes, "For the second time in 3 years, Segway has announced a recall of all Segway Personal Transporters. The problem described is that the Segway 'can unexpectedly apply reverse torque to the wheels, which can cause a rider to fall. This can occur when the device is tilted back by the Speed Limiter and the rider comes off and then back onto the device within a short period of time.' A software update is needed to fix the problem." This AP story mentions President Bush's 2003 stumble on a Segway without speculating on whether the cause was the software glitch behind the current recall.
So, pretty much all of them then.
For those who haven't seen Dubya's presidential tumble... see it here
Funnypics
I can confidently say that I've never seen one of these silly-looking contraptions in the wild.
This AP story mentions President Bush's 2003 stumble on a Segway without speculating on whether the cause was the software glitch behind the current recall.
More likely he just didn't know how to ride particularly well yet. They do take some practice.
Have you ever wondered How to Take Over
look up:
"For the second time in 3 years, Segway has announced a recall of all Segway Personal Transporters."
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Is this the MPAA? Is this the RIAA? Is this the DMCA? I thought it was the USA!
George Bush losing balance has nothing to do with the software glitch. Or Segways, for that matter.
Ginger 2.0
The shocking part of the story: there are 23,000 Seqway's out there?
_______
2B1ASK1
Hopefully, they'll screw up their patch and make sure everyone who rides a segway gets thrown ass-over-teakettle as soon as they get on.
Software piracy is victimless theft.
Dean Kamen was unavailable for comment as he was being held in an undisclosed location.
It's a joke, lighten up...
Do you have ESP?
The glitch that caused that fall was in the wetware, not the software..
This doesn't surprise me. It's just another example of how easily programmers fall into the trap of common "use cases" when writing software. Too often, programs are written on the assumption on a simple linear chain of events driven by a use case. In the Segway example, it would appear that the people who wrote the control logic for the scooter assumed that people would get on the machine from a full stop and get off the machine at a full stop. Remounting the machine during the stopping process violated this assumption and exposed a fault in the control logic. I see this type of problem all the time on e-commerce sites (even Amazon.com has the problem) when the buyer attempts to unroll part of a transaction to change something or check an alternative path in the buy/ship/bill/confirm cycle.
The point: always assume the user might do anything at any point in time.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
It was an intelligence failure. No one could have predicted it. Any criticism of it is emboldening our enemies.
with a nice little "disk" interface, and a "bios" folder.
Just toss the latest software in that folder, and it either immediately updates, or it reboots and updates.
That would be save a lot of shipping costs.
34486853790
Connection too slow for X forwarding? Try "ssh -CX user@host"
When the device is tilted back? Does this mean that doing a wheelie causes a reverse in torque to the back tire? Sounds like a hidden attempt at sterilizing part of the population. Ouch..
Is it a good thing that a transportation device like the Segway could need a software update, as it threatens the safety of the user? What happens when software tech really makes it into our cars and other vehicles, and a company has to recall all their models because a 'minor software glitch' causes the brakes to fail? Hopefully there'll be a lot more safeguards built into the cars of the future.
This does point to the dangers of relying on computerised processes to take control of critical system functions which could potentially put human wellbeing at risk. Computers, particularly digital ones, tend to have absolute modes of failure: they may not fail often, but when they do, it's often a doozy.
With human design failures in more purely mechanical devices. fixes are more obvious and failure points can sometimes even be detected and corrected by the end user, whereas computerised systems often don't show signs of problems until it hits that misplaced bit of code and [insert Earth-shattering kaboom here].
On a Segway, such a system poses relatively small risk of injury, but with cars and other large modes of transport increasingly relying on computer processing for their critical functions, a need for extremely rigorous testing presents itself. I would suggest that the relevant government regulatory agencies step in and set standards for the roadworthiness of these systems, as human wellbeing is affected.
Just my random thoughts brought about by this article.
Who is this delectable creature with an insatiable love of the dead?
Hell, I give em props for *initiating* the recall, not *responding* to recall demands.
And FWIW, I've seen two in San Antonio, TX... one guy cruising down the sidewalk in front of Lackland AFB, and a new upscale shopping center (La Cantera?) has Segways for their security guards. You'll notice a lot of ramps connecting different levels... not only for handicapped, but for the Segways.
Saw a guard cruising down the ramp... he saw me coming with a grin on my face, and beat me to the punch. "Nope, sorry, you can't take it for a spin!" Grin on his face too, he could read me like a book. In our brief chitchat, he mentioned that they all love them, really reduces the wear and tear on the body that your normal security goon has to deal with.
Skivvy Niner? Email me!
HEY! Look left just ONE MORE TIME!
Microsoft, apparently, has an automotive division. I just hope that they treat this software with more care than they do Windows. I don't really feel like having to hook my car up to the 'net every night to check for patches.
Love sees no species.
the Segway can unexpectedly apply reverse torque to the wheels, which can cause a rider to fall
HA-HA!
Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
Segways are like fat chicks. They're both fun to ride until one of your friends sees you.
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
A dramatic visual demonstration of this problem will appear in the movie Jackass 3.
I'm sure.
Does this mean we have to go redesign all our cities again?
I am really surprised that when they ship the scooter they don't also inlude a connection so that you can upgrade its software directly via USB or something along those lines.
Perhaps they are worried about proprietary software being stolen by anybody that can get their hands on one, but you'd think if you really wanted to you would be able to do that anyways.
So all in all, why wouldn't they make it so that you can update software from home?
Ahhh, well... on the other hand, I can see now where enthusiasts release a patch making the Segway capable of traveling at 25mph. Perhaps it is better just to ship the things in and be done with it.
Justin - Don't be afraid of my blog, it won't bite.
Wow... for once, a product recall that isn't issued because the products are catching on fire and/or exploding! Simply amazing.
"Let's face it, it's a good story. Accuracy would kill it."
That's a pretty small run in three years for something that is going to change the world. Even if it was only in the US, that would still be much less than 1/10000 penetration.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
If it was not for that feature we would not have gotten to see Paris Hilton bust her dumb ass on one.
If I replaced my car with a Segway -- the Transportation Tool of the Future (tm) -- how do I get it to the service centre now that it's officially dangerous to ride? (Stand on?)
Skot Nelson music is my saviour / i was maimed by rock and roll
Stupid Segway, it is recalling scooters and trying to fix it. The right thing to do is to encourage everyone to follow "responsible disclosure" which means nobody should disclose anything about it. If and when a fix is ready, post instructions on how to fix it once a month, on a Tuesday. Then people should get the replacement parts mailed to them and they should install the "patches". That is the way to billions folks.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
Personally, I think they should be congratulated, for two reasons. Firstly, as has already been mentioned, this is a pro-active recall. Secondly, two recalls in 3 years for something as complex and innovative as this is pretty good going. Why is it that a Segway recall makes front page news, whereas the thousands of other recalls that happen in most industries on a daily basis go unnoticed. I recently had to have a software upgrade on my car (BMW) and doing some research of my own suggests that BMW provide software updates on average every couple of months. This software upgrade wasn't to improve something as mundane as the radio or sat-nav, it was to fix a fault with the automatic gearbox. It happens, and I would say Segway have a better record than most.
Thus poving again that no press coverage is good press coverage.
But I'm not sure it was that way.
Or are the scooters going to make their own way back? Disney should buy the rights, this could be so much better than "Incredible Journey".
ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
The Segway was created to help change the way we design our cities, but it seems ended up changing the way we design our dental plans...
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
The Segway, and other small EV's make sense--especially in Northern California. Cars not only add pollution, make it difficult to find anywhere in CA where you can't hear the roar of the highway during the week. Segway does have an uphill battle, fighting against the car as the vehicle that has been programmed into your mind as part of the American Dream. We have an entire infrastructure surrounding cars, parts manufactures, mechanics, parts stores, and accessory sales, and they must challenge that. Find some pictures of an open Segway, look how their made. The machines are expensive, but they cost a lot of money to make. Now they include Li-ion batteries, and have better range. In urban areas, Seqways make more sense than cars, parking isn't a problem, insurance is cheap, and you can take store them in your apartment. For everyone riding a Seqway or any other small EV, there is one less car on the road--that is something everyone wants.
https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM
"Rollback across America!"
Thanks, I'll be here all week.
Leben Sie jetzt die Fragen.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
But wait until they start recalling colored lasers.
"My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right." --Senator Carl Schurz (1872)
Obviously, the problem is a Segfault! *DUCKS*
Then they can make it a sport to see how long you can stay on. And a pit of Segways will soon replace the mechanical bull at Honky-Tonk bars everywhere!
Whats wrong with the economy? I got plenty of money. Hell, Im a college kid and I have plenty of money, a job, and I can buy whatever I need and some of the things I want.
Yay, I have a sig.
Bush fell off of the unit because it wasn't turned on in the first place. He never keyed the unit to power, nor switched it to what's called "Balance Mode" - most of the introductory material highlights this extremely well. He took it out of the box and then stood on it. You're also supposed to charge it before use to condition the batteries, which he also failed to do.
Also, "reverse torque" wouldn't cause him to fall -forward- unless he managed to have corrected it and somehow caused a wheel to spin out on flat, regular asphalt, which is nigh impossible.
I'm honestly not too concerned with this recall - it seems like it happened when people first started to learn how to use the units, where they would get freaked out by the unit tilting back to warn them of the unit's speed limitations, and then stepped off. Jump right back on, and bad things -can- happen, apparently.
-Jordan
Just the other day the Sam's Club web page had an ad for Segway XTs. Now the ad is gone and a site search returns nothing about them. Maybe they were worried that if they ever wanted to use Wal-mart's 'Rollback pricing' slogan it might send the wrong message.
hey, if you can't stay on the Segway to begin with, why shouldn't it feel the need to kick you off again? Bush's bicycles should be so smart. ;-/
Quick, someone stick a couple of auto-iris CCD cameras( with plate aluminum sun visors ) on the Segway handlebars and call it a 'Johnny 5+'!
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
No, actually. The reason for the "voluntary recall" is that the Consumer Product Safety Commission gives manufacturers an option. They can either do a "voluntary recall", or the CPSC can do it the hard way, with injunctions, orders, fines, and bans on further sales of the product. That results in announcements like Dynacraft To Pay $1.4 Million Penalty for Failing to Report Hazard with Mountain Bicycles. "The forks, which are part of the steering column, can break apart and separate from the front wheel, causing the rider to lose control and suffer serious injuries."
Most manufacturers take the voluntary option. A few try defying the recall order. Doesn't work. "John Rasmus, of Hallstead, Pennsylvania, the owner of Pyrotek, was sentenced to 5 months in prison, 5 months home confinement and three years of supervised release."
Not "Vrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm m"
Try "Budda-Bwatta, Budda-Bwatta, Budda-Bwatta, Pop, WHAHHHHHHHHHHHH"
So basically we are seeing that the machines managed to get around the foundations of robotics. In harming humans, they have achieved more than embarassing a few humans. They have, in fact, shown that the three laws of robotics have been circumvented. If I was a robot, I would blame my firmware. "It made me do it. I heard voices."
Granted, my experience with these things is limited to a 1 hour "tour" I took a few years ago, but it seems to me that "reverse torque" could make you fall forward. Normally, you balance because the thing tries to stay under you, but if you get on and it incorrectly tries to move backward - you'd fall forward, right?
Prov 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
I can probably find less expensive ways of looking like a dork...
That is all.
A remixed lyric from the rap song "Ridin Dirty" by Chamillionaire:
They see me leanin', they hatin', patrollin and tryin to catch me ridin segway.
Perhaps they should get the fine computer experts at Diebold involved? I hear they are pretty good at propping up Republicans.
{....ohhhh...I can feel the flames already....}
A goal is a dream with a deadline
What is the purpose of a Segway ? I can see it as a novely item, a wayof saying "hey,look what technology can do". beyond that, who needs one ?? What's wrong with using the 2 legs you were born with ? Besides, walking is a good excersize, keeps and improves the circulation to the legs and feet, helps build endurance, good for the heart, lungs, muscles, etc. It's a great way to prevent ourselves from turning into overweight diabetic louts or helps reverse that trend if one is already headed in that direction. It offers no speed advantage over a bicycle or an electric or gas scooter. For the cost of one Segway I can buy more than one good quality bicycleor even a powered scooter that needs no software updates. My conclusion ?? Segwayis a nice novely toybut, who needs it ?
Now we segue... (yes Pun most definitely intended) to me at Loew's the other day. I come around the corner and there are 2 folks on their Segway's... my first thought is they look silly and the second is they're lazy bums... go figure.
So in a nutshell makes sense where large distances are covered as part of your job, silly for daily use when most folks aren't getting enough exercise as it is!!
*Signature under repair*
Not to defend GW here, but normally, it's not the task of a president to load the batteries of some device he might use. Really, it's not GW to blame here, but just some people in the team that didn't prepare the whole action. Normally, at events where such official people attend, the event is practized at least one time. That this happened is just stupidity from people organizing it, I would say.
molmod.com - computing tips from a molecular modeling
s/b, at the end, mostly expensive toys.
may be you just should put up your thoughts on more things outside of the usa than inside the usa ... tilting segways arent really the big problem in this world .... :P
and in another news i just have to tell you that another sack of rise tilted in china !!! be careful
they have segways to alleviate dangers of the job...
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
So, let's see if I can nail down the chain of events now that we have the benefit of hindsight:
Wow, it is so difficult to imagine this could've happened...
This wasn't an event. But it is good to see his apologists are still out in full force. Good on yah!
Most of the cost of the Segway comes from the balancing act it has to do. Yes 2 wheeled transport in the form of bikes has been around for over a hundred years but they don't balance themselves, you learn to ride a bike and balance it the it's your fault as the user if you go ass over tit. So long as the Segway needs power and a computer to not make you fall on your ass, it'll be an expensive mistake to own. You're much better off with a bike than a scooter or this contraption.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
That's not a bug, it's a feature!
Karma: Bad. (As in Good?)
As someone who has one in the house (roommate won one about a year ago) 12MPH is fast enough - by the time you're going 12MPH, you're leaning quite a bit - 25MPH would be crazy.
We use it for the novelty. Taking it out on event days in the city - 4th of July, for example - or when we need something *quick* as our bikes are in the basement and cars can take too long for some of the shorter places.