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Tai Chi Scooter Promises Fun and Falls
In a bold move for natural selection, a mechanical engineer at Purdue University has created a new take on the Segway. Removing pesky confusing handlebars, the new "Tai Chi Scooter" has an optical encoder that monitors the angular displacement of the electric motor, requiring you to manipulate your center of balance to drive the scooter. Unfortunately you will not be able to purchase this and begin breaking your own limbs anytime soon as the creator says he has no plans to market the scooter. Someone buy the rights to this and mass produce it quickly so we can thin the herd.
I think the main issue with the segway wasn't the handle bar or its size. But the fact that it was 10k Too expensive for the average Joe for what you get from it. I think they should but engineering into making it cheaper Sub 1k and run well.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
while I was walking down the street a guy came out of a building, hopped on a unicycle, and rode away. I found the whole experience random and strange. I turns out there is a whole club for jugglers and unicyclists. This machine might be a real hit at one of their meetings.
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
Can it do any sweet jumps?
Looks a little heavy to do a good Ollie
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
Yeah, but most people face the front instead of the side (TFA photo) when on the Segway.
Therefore, to maintain balance on the modified Segway (assuming you're not used to it), you'll need to adjust your center of gravity continuously, by shifting it forwards and backwards repeatedly.
Not a good prospect, doing it in a crowded place.
With nothing to wrap your hands around, riding the scooter requires focusing your mind and maintaining awareness of your center of balance -- two fundamental elements of tai chi.
Or, you know, learning to walk or perform any other task where you move around while not holding onto anything.. Tai Chi my ass..
which is totally what she said
There is also lots of cheap competition using an older but well tested balancing method. For example: http://urbanscooters.com/
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
depends on a school. some schools teach taijiquan as some kind of dance to meditative music.
some schools teach it as a kung fu style it is (and it hurts).
i mean, some people think baguazhang is only about walking in circles where in fact it has got quite a lot of common with aikido.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
Joyboard on wheels. Kinda hard to Guru Meditate if you have to watch where you're going.
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
Bagua, hmph. Makes me dizzy, all that walking around in circles.
Don't piss off The Angry Economist
There's been stuff like this around for years. I think this is a fairly standard university robotics/programming group assignment. When I saw it years ago it was named as a variation on a skateboard using segway parts. Naming it Tai Chi isn't exactly innovative.
Stupidity is its own reward.
And it may have some market. Range would increase and travel would make some exercise. Could be used by people who don't ride bicycle for some reason.
So... it's kind of like a skateboard or snowboard?