Well, not to blog a dead horse or anything, but here are some more thoughts. First, I think there will be more to this story. And I think the big deal will turn out to be the gyroscopic stabilization system. Remember that Kamen is really into helicopters (he owns two, one of which he helped design; he's a helicopter pilot; he flys a helicopter to work.) There actually might be something to all the personal flying craft rumors. Stabilization is the key to making something like that, and it might be the case that he has solved those problems with segway. I'm no engineer, but I'm guessing that segway could be a proof of concept for the stabilizer that will be used to create a personal flying machine. This might help explain why some seemingly knowledgable people made some truely outrageous claims as to the import of this device. Perhaps those luminaries were given the entire pitch ("And then in round two we'll introduce the flying machine using the same gyroscopic system...")
Another different direction to think in was pointed out by David McCusker. This thing might well have military backing. It does seem like a perfect platform to build robot soldier type things on top of. A remote controled gun and video camera mounted on this platform (so it could move over broken ground while keeping the gun fairly stable and level) would be pretty cool.
In any case, I still want to ride one. And after seeing a couple of quick clips on TV I want to try it even more. It does look like a lot of fun.
I was thinking the same thing, that the real big news of IT is the gyroscopic stabilization. There must be countless applications for such a device. I like the way Kamen describes driving IT as "bending space" (or something like that, sorry to paraphrase, I'm just not gonna go back and read all those links to find the exact quote) I'm hoping that such langauge hints at something bigger than a scooter, but it might just be wacky inventor speak or savy language of a marketing campaign.
Can anyone point out a shematic of the mechanics. The gyro sounds like a horizontal flyweel. My guess is that this grounding effect probably accounts for 2/3 it's total weight. Note the distance of the rider from the ground.
I haven't seen schematics, but I think there are 5 gyroscopes in this thing. My guess is that most of the weight (and the space in the bottom part of the unit) are for the battery. Batteries are really heavy.
That sounds right about the batteries. The Segway page was not forthcoming with real deatils. The patent drawing was even more exageratedly tall in the saddle. Your probably also also right about the real story being the pattents on the gyros for future aplications. Meantime they'll be sold to industry, the postal service and the type of person who can afford them. Before everyone could afford lace up rollerskates you could rent them at a rink. Who wants to open the Chelsea pier concession ? Final product not too hard on the eyes but I'd still watch my toes when they start cutting through crowds at any speed.
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Another different direction to think in was pointed out by David McCusker. This thing might well have military backing. It does seem like a perfect platform to build robot soldier type things on top of. A remote controled gun and video camera mounted on this platform (so it could move over broken ground while keeping the gun fairly stable and level) would be pretty cool.
In any case, I still want to ride one. And after seeing a couple of quick clips on TV I want to try it even more. It does look like a lot of fun.
- jim 12-04-2001 5:18 pm
I was thinking the same thing, that the real big news of IT is the gyroscopic stabilization. There must be countless applications for such a device. I like the way Kamen describes driving IT as "bending space" (or something like that, sorry to paraphrase, I'm just not gonna go back and read all those links to find the exact quote) I'm hoping that such langauge hints at something bigger than a scooter, but it might just be wacky inventor speak or savy language of a marketing campaign.
- steve 12-04-2001 8:28 pm [add a comment]
Can anyone point out a shematic of the mechanics. The gyro sounds like a horizontal flyweel. My guess is that this grounding effect probably accounts for 2/3 it's total weight. Note the distance of the rider from the ground.
- bill 12-04-2001 9:47 pm [add a comment]
I haven't seen schematics, but I think there are 5 gyroscopes in this thing. My guess is that most of the weight (and the space in the bottom part of the unit) are for the battery. Batteries are really heavy.
- jim 12-04-2001 10:31 pm [add a comment]
That sounds right about the batteries. The Segway page was not forthcoming with real deatils. The patent drawing was even more exageratedly tall in the saddle. Your probably also also right about the real story being the pattents on the gyros for future aplications. Meantime they'll be sold to industry, the postal service and the type of person who can afford them. Before everyone could afford lace up rollerskates you could rent them at a rink. Who wants to open the Chelsea pier concession ? Final product not too hard on the eyes but I'd still watch my toes when they start cutting through crowds at any speed.
- bill 12-05-2001 12:06 am [add a comment]