Posted on 12/02/2001 6:56:41 PM PST by Enlightiator
The Time article:
Think Visicalc, an application that ran only on the Apple. Before the IBM PC became a success, the Apple II was the office computer of choice, simply because it ran this spreadsheet.
Considering their humble start, I'd say Jobs and Woz were wildly successful.
I'm not an engineer, but that's what it looks like to me.
I think the drive train for the Segway will be the revolutionary thing (the control system is neat, but that kind of stuff is only good for low speeds, at high speeds turning the vehicle moves your body too much for tilt controlling to be safe), if it's half as efficient as they say it is it's very impressive. The worst invention in the world always has one thing about it that's cool the question is did the inventor use that cool part well. In the case of Segway I think the answer is a resounding no, but we'll see what people do with that drive train, that actually could revolutionize things. I want to know what happens when you put 6 of those engines on 4 wheels of a car instead of 2 on 2 wheels of a half assed scooter. What kind of fuel efficiency and top speed are we talking then? What can be done to this to make it run a fully loaded sedan at highway speeds for 250 miles (roughly what the average sedan gets per tank now) and how fast can you recharge it? That's what interests me in Segway.
1. It needs to do at least 40 MPH.
2. It needs a longer battery life
3. It needs an internal lock. A grove cut into the chasis that one can just put a bar from a bike rack into it, turn a key and it seals it to the rack.
Other than that, it'll sell for a while. Until it's registered and plated like a motorcycle, the hype will remain high. Perhaps there's some FReepers here that work for the postal system that can enlighten us about their experience with this in the future.
Because some people like to be out and around, touching, smelling and looking at solid objects sometimes.
This version uses batteries. Nothing new.
What is kind of new is the "method" of propulsion.
Gyroscopes are normally used to stabilize. The gyroscope can sense if something becomes unbalanced and send a signal to a motor or some other actuator to make a correction and stabilize the device. These are used in avionics, missile guidance, and those jitter free cameras they use to film NFL games.
Ginger uses the motor that usually stabilizes a device as the means of locomotion. It is like trying to balance a yardstick on your open hand: if it leans forward you have to move your hand forward to keep it balanced. All the technology that Kamen uses has been around awhile. He just uses it in new and ingenious way. The definition of a true inventor.
Though this version uses batteries, I believe this device is a prime candidate for fuel cell technology. I bet Kamen already has version built up somewhere. But it probably costs much more than the $3000 and $8000 prices he quoted
Segway -- "Tourist-Tested Tough"
I don't know if anyone here has been to Europe lately........but they have these 2-seater cars (3 cylinder engine!!!!!) that are extremely utilitarian for in-city driving, parking, gas mileage, etc. They're maufactured by Daimler-Chrysler.......kinda cool, you see them all over the cities "over there". Check this out if you WANT "small":
http://www.smart.com/
Hey, at least you can get a couple of bags of groceries in them!
How can you be so careless, negligent even!! Think of your family! I never take mine off in the shower unless it's Tuesday - that's when I wash my hair. (;>)
How can you be so careless, negligent even!! Think of your family! I never take mine off in the shower unless it's Tuesday - that's when I wash my hair. (;>)
Amen to that. Rumour has it possibly even the funeral industry.
I know what you're talking about there, but I have been much luckier, only having this condition because of a couple of MCI's, I seem to be having some vascular regrowth, which explains my much delayed departure. Sorry again for the misunderstanding. God bless you also.
The way I've heard about it, for the forseeable future only heavily trafficed highways would be automated. So you can go to sleep, or whatever, while commuting, but drive yourself in the country. Sounds good to me.
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