DEVELOPING: 'IT' REVEALED; 'SEGWAY' SELF-BALANCING PEOPLE MOVER

Drudge ^ | Dec 2, 2001

[Leroy S. Mort]

Just a headline so far.....Matt must be writing the copy now

[John Jorsett]

Does anyone know what is going to POWER this thing? Another article said something about the patent including verbiage alluding to "fuel-air ratio," which would seem to indicate internal combustion.

There's been a lot of discussion around a Stirling engine, which is external combustion. I haven't verified it for myself, but some people have said that Kamen has taken out one or more patents regarding Stirling technology. It's an attractive idea: pour some cheap brandy or distillations from fermented lawn clippings into your tank and head on out.

[Registered]

I could'a used one of those in '82. Crashed my brand new motorcycle and had to have extensive back surgery.

[CaptSkip]

"That provided one of the most jaw-dropping belly-laughs (JDBL) I've gotten out of South Park. Another JDBL was when Ms. ChokesOn's pendulous mammaries peeked out from her blouse as she raised her arms in gesture."

Also very painfull...esp. when the kittys (and rats?) tried to jump up and reach the "breast area" of Ms. ChokesOnD***s. JDBL for sure!

[Age of Reason]

Another piece of mechanical crap to complicate living.

[phalynx]

No no, Teens will be able to install 5,000 watt stereos and slam them to the ground with neon glaring brightly.

Besides, if it is motorized, what will it take to pass DMV laws?

[Flyer]

And will we have to be photographed and fingerprinted to be licensed to ride it?

[phalynx]

True, does the Brady Bill have a paragraph on this?

[nimc]

Well here's my "It WAG"…LOL

Power source is two arrays of ceramic micro-turbines fired by hydrogen. The two arrays are oriented in X-Y configuration so the gyro effect stabilizes the platform. The electrical output of, say 2000 in each array supplies the torque for the wheels.

How far off am I? Any engineers comments?

[nimc]

I believe it is the underlying technology that will prove to be the revolution, not the scooter.

That's what I've been saying all along.

[Elihu Burritt]

A completely useless piece of garbage. Doomed to fail before it even gets started.

Not so. Little kids who don't know how to ride a bicyle can get on it and get killed.

[djf]

don't know about licensing requirements, that would be handled on a state-by-state basis.

I'm just commenting I do not seeing it
REVOLUTIONIZING
very much the way things are done. Sure, mebbee alot will show up on college campuses, etc.
Ever been to a town that tries to close off part of the downtown area to autos? They tried it in Seattle.
It was't the people who drove around that shot it down, it was...
the merchants.

[billbears]

Amen to that!! And if you can't bore the engine at least 30 over what's the use in having it? I'll just keep my 351

[Captain America]

In the future he envisions, cars will be banished from urban centers to make room for millions of "empowered pedestrians" - empowered, naturally, by Kamen's brainchild...

Ban cars? And how does a family of five go anywhere together? How does anyone wanting to haul a substantial load of anything get around town? I like the new idea but don't see how it can make cars unnecessary.

[phalynx]

Maybe it is methane powered and each owner will have a personal recharging (collection) device so you can have enough power to make it across the street where you can pay to ride the local bus.

[phalynx]

And just think, if it is self balancing, how much it would be to attach powerful electro-magnets on the side of your car....

[KneelBeforeZod]

OLD NEWS... if it is this little self-righting doo dad, there was an article about it in Maxim about 3 months ago.

[Khepera]

now I have to go 10 miles to the store but I bet these babies don't have that kind of range.

[VA Voter]

How do (you) make out at the drive-in movie?

Showing your age. There aren't any drive-ins (passion pits) any more.

[TruthWillWin]

Maybe it is methane powered

You mean it will be powered by cheese? Will we have to attach a playing card to the spokes for the motor sound?

[The Duke]

Hmmm...I missed out on short-selling the dotcom's...I won't miss this one!