"It" Gets Around (Segway/Ginger)

ABC News ^ | 12/3/01 | Antonio Mora

[spycatcher]

I still don't see how all the power comes from a fairly small battery. Seems the friction would be the same as a bike -- so would a bike go the same length of time with a battery and no pedaling? Will another model have a bike seat with pedaling optional (high tech unicycle/bicycle)?

[Steven W.]

But will it transform lives, cities and even thinking, as first hyped in the media?

obviously NO

[spycatcher]

It will be a success though because it's fun for consumers but has serious military and business applications. Special forces are very interested and evaluating how it can be customized for troops

[Voltage]

It doesn't matter how clever the design is, you can't violate physical principles.

For example the claim that you can't fall of because it balances itself. That balancing system consumes energy, which must come from the battery. And it will consume a lot, as the torque the rider will apply to the axle will be huge. A bicycle will be much more efficient as concerns balance, simply due to the large angular momentum possible with a large bicycle wheel. Additionally the small, and wide wheels used by 'it' require more energy to travel over an imperfect surface. For this reason a bicycle with a large, high pressure, narrow wheel requires less energy, as any bicyclist knows.

Notice also the low clearance of the 'it'. This means that a relatively small object will 'derail' it.

In addition to be inefficient, it will also be dangerous.

A battery powered bicycle would be a much better idea...and its been done, and found wanting.

This product will be purchased by a few dreamers, the rest of us will save our money.

[Goldi-Lox]

"IT" reminds me of "The Roadrunner" in high speed mode. (looks the same![beep beep])

[hgro]

An expensive toy that will be stolen at every opportunity.

[Republic of Texas]

I'm underwhelmed

[vince_foster]

This has been the most brilliant marketing campaign in the history of the world, followed by an expensive substitute for a Honda spree moped.

[spycatcher]

I'm sure the design will change down the road and incorporate more efficient batteries. Advanced battery technology is a huge research area right now. Inefficient batteries have been the limiting factor for everything in our modern society.

[Old Professer]

The only way that this can work in practice is for the "rider" to expend as much energy "rocking" the device as it would require to walk or run the same distance while the mini-battery supplies the power to balance this silly, wheeled "pogo stick"; I hope the people who have committed to purchase this have the good sense to demand guarantees of performance.

[CreekerFreeper]

I think you're wrong. I saw the tests this morning on GMA and it executed going up and over 'rough' terrain with ease. I can foresee that this transport device will change the way that delivery businesses are structured and how downtown commuters go to and from work.

[Arkie2]

Hmm. Put bigger wheels on it and go four, oops, two wheeling? I think the issue of balance is addressed by several high speed gyros, hence no draw on the battery as long as they're spinning at adequate speed. I can actually see a lot of applications for this thing on campuses, military flight lines, postmen, warehouses etc. I'm not sure it will revolutionize city transportation though.

[Jupiter II]

True, but I see possibilities here.

[Brett66]

"I've seen it, and it is… more important than pantyhose and it's more important than the Internet," said Metcalf

This guy is an engineer for crying out loud, why would make a stupid statement like this? Kamen must've paid him money to hype this toy.

[germanshepherd]

I think you're right. Why should we be surprised that an invention can do something that was previously thought impossible? Didn't some people from bygone years once balk at the possibility of a self-propelled vehicle? (read: automobile) Heck, there were probably cavemen who similarly doubted the wheel. Just about anything is possible once we conceive of it, and that's a fact.

[germanshepherd]

PS But I will admit, those things look pretty dorky, and the guys standing around on them do too!

[Doctor Don]

Does it come with an umbrella? In the winter I'll take a dogsled anytime! Is this a high tech age or not?

[Brett66]

I still don't see how all the power comes from a fairly small battery.

It must be using the newer battery technology. Maybe lithium ion? Of course these batteries have a limited recharge capacity and will have to be replaced after a while. It will be very expensive to replace these batteries. I wonder if he figured that as part of the lifetime cost of this machine?

[RandallFlagg]

Bring on the Skycar!!

[CreekerFreeper]

well, look @ Bill Gates...