It must be pretty badass, because the Manager of Credit Suisse First Boston (a big bank) is one of the people who knows what it is, and he claims Kamen will be worth 5x what Gates is in 5 years.

Any guesses on this thing? the ginger-chat site has some good info...boggles my mind, though.

another thing:

14. There is a spin-off of Deka Research and Development, called Acros, LLC which according to the trademark will produce "motorized, self-propelled, wheeled personal mobility aids, namely wheelchairs, scooters, carts, and chariots."

15. (Acros, LLC) has bought up the url's < www.flywheels.com, > < www.flywheels.org, > flywheelsucks.com, myflywheel.com, [flywheeling.com - ( Thanks majic )] (From now on new domains will be listed in the Domain Timeline section below).

hoverscooters! can you say back to the future?

This message has been edited by Resonant on December 01, 2001 at 06:04 PM

i heard it was a one-wheeled skooter-gyro cycle thing. but who knows?

anyways...my guess is close to catknight -- it's not an engine though, he said a while back that the device itself was used for transportation. It's sort of obvious that it's going to be called a flywheel. bearing that in mind, what can it be? "fly" "wheel"...something essential to transportation, and flying. Interesting.

I'm curious what IT is.

I'm reminded of a song... though the name of the band and the song name escapes me... But it is about "IT"... help?

I'm sorry if noone got that, but I sorta got a buzz, and that's the only way I could desribe it.

------------------
~Anztac [ Pertinaciously disconsolate ]

This message has been edited by DeadAnztac on December 02, 2001 at 02:37 AM

------------------
~Anztac [ Pertinaciously disconsolate ]

This message has been edited by DeadAnztac on December 02, 2001 at 02:38 AM

ed - sp

This message has been edited by ASCIIMan on December 02, 2001 at 03:08 AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by ASCIIMan:
The difference between CatKnight's post and Anztac's post is the difference between physics and engineering.

---

That was brilliantly stated.

Catknight is right, though. A flywheel is just a method of energy storage by storing it in a motion about a moment. Out of curiosity, is that kinetic energy or potential energy stored in a flywheel? I know it's moving, but it isn't doing any work until it's applied, so I'd call it potential... or both.

*head explodes*

oh, you don't know what a flywheel is.

a flywheel is a massive wheel with a high angular moment. you can spin it up to a high speed and then mechanically drain that rotational energy to other wheels or gears. I think some delivery/messenger cars in europe use them, but they only give you 15 minutes or so of power.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DeadAnztac:
The fuck

---

The fuck?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Der_Teufel:
A flywheel stores kinetic energy.

---

"storing energy" = potential energy. it doesn't matter what you call it, it's still E=1/2*a*I^2

wiley--there is an easy way around that little inertia while turning problem. I think they have the wheel spinning on it's normal axis and on one side of the car.

besides we are talkign about courrier vans here, they go like 30 kph through cramped city streets in europe, not down highways in the us.

This message has been edited by CatKnight on December 02, 2001 at 02:33 PM

TIME MAG is planning to report on Monday: The Segway is a self-balancing people mover... Developing Hard...

The NEW YORK TIMES is set to front Segway in Monday runs...

Developed at a cost of more than 贄 million, the vehicle is a complex bundle of hardware and software that mimics the human body's ability to maintain its balance...

I can see all the anime comming true now! Bipedal tanks! Mechwarriors! Aghhh!

------------------
~Anztac [ Pertinaciously disconsolate ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheManThatWasntThere:
Heh

---

Great first post

Kamen explains how the Segway works: "When you walk, youire really in whatis called a controlled fall. You off-balance yourself, putting one foot in front of the other and falling onto them over and over again. In the same way, when you use a Segway, thereis a gyroscope that acts like your inner ear, a computer that acts like your brain, motors that act like your muscles, wheels that act like your feet. Suddenly, you feel like you have on a pair of magic sneakers, and instead of falling forward, you go sailing across the room."

fucking a.

I knew all you hardcore IT fanatics would end up being disappointed...

"IT - The moped for the next generation!"

edit - reading the article on TIME IT does seem 'neat', though.

This message has been edited by miNus on December 02, 2001 at 08:07 PM

i mean we CAN do tricks on our own.

edit: wow, that must suck if the batteries die out mid motion.

This message has been edited by [liquid] meta on December 02, 2001 at 08:18 PM

aahh.... what horse shit.

but i still want one.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Resonant:
"When you walk, youire really in whatis called a controlled fall. You off-balance yourself, putting one foot in front of the other and falling onto them over and over again. In the same way, when you use a Segway, thereis a gyroscope that acts like your inner ear, a computer that acts like your brain, motors that act like your muscles, wheels that act like your feet. Suddenly, you feel like you have on a pair of magic sneakers, and instead of falling forward, you go sailing across the room."

---

So how do you get off it then?

This message has been edited by DuSTman on December 02, 2001 at 11:23 PM

quote:

---

Originally posted by [liquid] meta:
edit: wow, that must suck if the batteries die out mid motion.

---

i'm guessing they'll have some sort of recharge thing like how your car recharges its battery while you're driving. if not, i'll have to pull out the battery of my mp3 player if i get stuck

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rhydant:
[B]hhehehehhehe. if you cant fall over while riding it, when why is he wearing a helmet?
/me fallsover in laughter.
[B]

---

Most likely because some gimped advertising agency thought it would look "safe" and "politically correct" for the picture. What a tool.

But I still want one too

This message has been edited by Resonant on December 03, 2001 at 03:42 AM

------------------
Woman has choked. Buy new woman.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DuSTman:
So how do you get off it then?

---

You have to fall off, hence the helmet.

------------------
AHHHH cobras ahhh ahhhh ahh cooooobraaaass cooobraass ahh -homer

quote:

---

Originally posted by SLATE:
Whats the top speed on that sucker on a level plain?
If its faster then 20mph, then that would be cool.

---

edit: oops, i meant 18

This message has been edited by chmod on December 03, 2001 at 01:03 PM

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Fucknuggets flamed while you wait.< TeamWolfguard.com >
< Robot Conflict >

quote:

---

Originally posted by Der_Teufel:
The riced out "IT":

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CatKnight:
if that thing costs more then a couple hundred bucks then it's worthless. just get a bike.

---

Gummo says WTF!!!! heard this barbie scooter is going for 3,000 start, I COULD be misinformed as always.Gummo is fustrated at another 'handicapped' invention, all excited it was going to be a good one, what a let down.

"Boys and girls, we're going to learn a new word today. BULLSHIT. B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T. No little Jimmie, that's not hyphanated."

Don't try to tell me it's the "science". "you lean forward and it goes, because of SCIENCE!" Yeah, that's called gravity dilnuts.

------------------
Net Syndrome - < www.netsyndrome.net >
Catch The Sickness

This message has been edited by Non on December 03, 2001 at 02:47 AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by Non:
maybe crank up the top speed...

---

Where do I put my nitrous and 5 inch lowering block?

quote:

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Originally posted by ReetStraver:
Where do I put my nitrous and 5 inch lowering block?

---

Your an ass ...but it so damn funny every single time.
I wonder if you can get a CDROM for that thing as well? Get it up to 14mph.

This message has been edited by Wiley on December 03, 2001 at 03:27 PM

This message has been edited by Non on December 03, 2001 at 02:27 PM

quote:

---

Originally posted by Spydir:
so basicly... it's a razor, just with 2 wheels side by side, not one infront of the other?

"Boys and girls, we're going to learn a new word today. BULLSHIT. B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T. No little Jimmie, that's not hyphanated."

Don't try to tell me it's the "science". "you lean forward and it goes, because of SCIENCE!" Yeah, that's called gravity dilnuts.

---

No, the science would be the 10 microprocessor, the 100 million dollars worth of research, and the best balancing system ever developed. The fact that you're in a controlled freefall when you fall. It's not a scooter -- sure, it's in the form of one, but there will be plenty of re-applications within a few years' time to include four wheel models and such. Regardless of how you look at it, this thing is liquid brilliance. The fact that it will run for a full day on 5 cents worth of electric charge is incredible -- there's all the power consumption you'll ever need. If you don't want to cough up the cash, then fine, but it's completely the opposite of bullshit. I think you'll be proven wrong sometime withing the next year or so.

This message has been edited by Resonant on December 03, 2001 at 02:31 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by Resonant:
...the 100 million dollars worth of research, and the best balancing system ever developed.

...within a few years' time to include four wheel models and such.

---

hmmm... kinda defeats the purpose a little, eh?

quote:

---

Originally posted by beuges:
i'm guessing they'll have some sort of recharge thing like how your car recharges its battery while you're driving. if not, i'll have to pull out the battery of my mp3 player if i get stuck

---

Hooray for perpetual motion!

THAT would be interesting.

Either that or a walking battlesuit so that I could pick up syf0n and chuck him at the moon.

quote:

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Originally posted by miNus:

Either that or a walking battlesuit so that I could pick up syf0n and chuck him at the moon.

---

"I would not like to be a big Jacques Costeau, just a little Jacques Costeau." -Troy Hurtubise, Canadian Madman

quote:

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Originally posted by Non:
hmmm... kinda defeats the purpose a little, eh?

---

no, if each wheel is independent then it would by incredible manueverable, but still make good use of the technology

Also, I find it sad that there was hardly any mention of the Segway on most business news sources (Bloomberg, Bridge/Reuters, AP Wire, The Street Report or much else)

and im sure the people over there at DEKA are working on adding things to the Segway like a radio, some kind of umbrella top or something to keep rain out and other features.

keep in mind the first model was meant for industrial use. like mailmen and factory workers.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ReetStraver:
Where do I put my nitrous and 5 inch lowering block?

---

Look! I lean forward, and then it goes and doesn't tip because of gyroscopes! at speeds of up to 12 MPH! And it only costs what? 񘧸-񙖰?! My god! Let me go buy one now!

Whats that you say? It only needs to charge for six hours a day and can travel distances of up to 15 WHOLE MILES?! No please, take my money! Would you like to punch me in the face to? Because that seems fitting if I'm already buying this piece of shit.

What about gyroscopic precussion? (I spelt that wrong, but I'm sure CK knows what I'm talking about) Gyro's drift because of friction between the moving parts. Unless they've invented a frictionless substance that exists at a vide viarity of tempuratures.

*shakes head* I want to punch this( whats his name, Bob?) guy square in the face and scream SCIENCE LET ME DO THAT, and proceed to run off in a 'controlled fall'.

------------------
When my flying days are over, and my death has come to pass
I hope they bury me upside down, so the whole damn world can kiss my ass

"It leverages aerospace engineering and robust software to track your position. And it does it all without you noticing it."

Yeah that's a MAJOR selling point!

(anybody want to mirror the movie if you have it?)

This message has been edited by miNus on December 03, 2001 at 09:32 PM

Kamen: The real invention is the marketing scheme! The real "marvel of science" is that the scheme actually worked!
Clinton: That's some nice titty right there...
Kamen: Uh, were you listening to me, Bill?
Clinton:
Kamen: Bill?
Clinton:
Kamen: Oh, dear.
Clinton: Hey, turn the page real quick...

This message has been edited by whiskey@throttle on December 04, 2001 at 03:33 AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wiley:
You know if you hit a little rock, a curb, or a speedbump the Segway wouldn't have time to correct itself ...then splat ..faceplant.

Also, I find it sad that there was hardly any mention of the Segway on most business news sources (Bloomberg, Bridge/Reuters, AP Wire, The Street Report or much else)

---

It does enough calculations per second not to tip over small object....it's got 10 processors. Come on. Of course if you run full speed into a tree or something, you'll fall off.

Business media won't mention it until there's some word on how it's doing financially. Since it's not even going to be public for a year yet....All I know is that Credit Suisse think Kamen will be richer than gates in 5 years. We'll see.

Good quality surplus motors that are great for a battlebot in about a years time.

------------------
Fucknuggets flamed while you wait.< TeamWolfguard.com >
< Robot Conflict >

quote:

---

Originally posted by Resonant:
It does enough calculations per second not to tip over small object....it's got 10 processors.

---

It doesn't matter how many processors it has, it's top heavy. If one of the wheels hits a little rock or raised pavement it will tip forward too fast to correct. Then ..splat! Basically like tripping over a phone cord or stepping on your shoelace, the difference being that the Segway doesn't have a second leg to throw out and catch the fall. It's basically a one legged man at an ass kicking contest. And I wonder how well it will go downhill? I figure if you are going downhill at top speed and you lean forward, how's the thing going to correct? Will one of you math genius types post that equation? I want to know how much the thing would have to speed up to compensate for a 200lbs guy leaning forward down a 6\% grade with a starting speed of 10mph (of course you have to throw in additional acceleration due to gravity and such).
Hey, I'm all for the thing I just don't think it is the most amazing thing ever invented. I think Segway is just another MIT type science fair project like the robot that could catch a ball ..same need for quick compensative motor adjustments. It's been done.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wiley:
It's basically a one legged man at an ass kicking contest..

---

hahahahahaha

laf

Oh man, the horror ...

I wonder how efficient it is going uphill? I'm pretty sure that half of a journey will be uphill. Still run on .05 worth of energy?

Now, when they can balance a 4-passenger vehicle on one wheel and make it drive by everybody inside leaning forward, then I'll be impressed.

--amygdala

------------------
My whole life is an oxymoron...like, urban planning for gypsies...

It's not like you can "trick it". Of course if you're going to be an ass, you can always find a way around what we're saying, like, "it won't balance me if I drive off a cliff, and that's not good enough!"

quote:

---

"it won't balance me if I drive off a cliff, and that's not good enough!"

---

But if you were going 12 mph and you hit a 6 inch curb you would fall on your face or at least get a handle in the croch.

This message has been edited by Non on December 04, 2001 at 06:02 PM

As a result, the media was full of SHT stories, while investors on Wall Street were hoping inventor Dean Kamen would take his cool SHT public so they could get a piece of SHT.

...I can't believe this SHT!" said ABC's Diane Sawyer. "It's so fun and stable and quiet. Wow. SHT."

"Boy, I hope no one's looking because I really want to take a SHT right now!" joshed good-natured co-host Charles Gibson.

At ū,000 each, however, the consumer model may be out of reach of all but the most generous of gift givers. "If it's three grand, there's no way I can give a SHT," said Holly Dumal of Princeton, N.J. "I wish they'd make a cheap SHT."

Kamen replied that the company would never give its SHT away, but promised a less expensive version was "definitely on our SHT list."
< http://www.satirewire.com/news/0112/segway.shtml >

Then again, they've done it with aircraft. That's the reason for fly-by-wire craft and some of the newer weirder models like the X-29 or whatever, with the swept forward wing. The difference is that aeronautical engineers are using dynamic instability to produce a more agile and maneuverable aircraft. These segway folks can solve their engineering problem by adding a third wheel on the front.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ASCIIMan:
Hey Wiley, you're an idiot. The whole point of it is that it can correct it's balance *before* it becomes a problem...

---

Oh wow..now I see. So if you are chugging along at 12mph and something gets wedged under a wheel and stops it cold (like a rock or uneven pavement) with your upper body still moving forward at 12mph (this is called i-n-e-r-t-i-a) the super scooter will have corrected it's balance *before* it became a problem? Wow! I didn't know that it was psychic.
My argument is this. Pay a little closer attention here. Have you ever been on a skateboard and got a rock caught under the wheel? What happened? You got thrown forward right? How come your inner ear couldn't correct this balance and use your legs to absorb the shock? Well because the change in force was too sudden and to great to compensate for. Now the real problem with the Segway is that it RELIES on being slightly off balance to achieve forward momentum. This is fine provided that the wheels can keep up with the "controlled free-fall", but what happens if there is sudden force on the wheels contrary to the direction of travel? ..Sorry to say it's going down in a hurry.
This would of course become less of a factor is you made the wheels slightly bigger and split the axle into different halved that started around the shins of the rider. But the lower center of gravity would require a more dramatic lean. Maybe it would be the Segway Sport.

You're still an idiot. Don't ask "what if" - of course theres going to be situations in which it won't be able to correct in time. That's like asking if a car can crash if it runs into an immovable object. My point is that during normal use it *will* be able to correct itself, and if you're about to run into something that would affect its stability, you would likely know far enough beforehand that you would be able to avoid it.

------------------
When 1337 hax0rs start impaling each other with swords and typing code with a hook on one hand, then they can modify the term "pirate."

heaves: somewhere in that article it was mentioned that going downhill generated battery power. The time article, I mean...

------------------
"Who likes chicken? Who likes liver?
meow mix, meow mix please deliver"

quote:

---

Yahoo news:
Dean Kamen and his backers are banking on the Segway Human Transporter to displace cars, leading to a realigned cityscape that's more people-friendly.

---

Anyone else reminded of Preston Tucker?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Non:
But if you were going 12 mph and you hit a 6 inch curb you would fall on your face or at least get a handle in the croch.

---

If you are going 12 mph and hit a 6 inch curb, you're an idiot who deserves to have his face broken.

And for the whole "leaning forward/rolling down a hill" deal...I think it's pretty safe to say that you wouldn't need to lean forward if you were at a hill. You could probably stand much more level (or lean back even) in order to control the speed of your descent.

BTW, folks, the current price is what the market will bear. Of course this thing is going to have an opening cost of 񘧸...think of the marketing hype that was thrust behind this thing for the past year and a half! Besides, some rich bastards out there can afford it...what with the holidays and all, they’ll probably buy these things up like they were black-market Nazi art or discount Beluga caviar. Well, assuming they’re for sale already, that is...

Cripes, VHS Cassettes used to cost ๥ each. Just wait people...eventually the price of a Segway will become far more consumer friendly. Just as will the Intel Itanium chips, 2002 model cars, etc etc etc

Just for the record, however, please note that I will never buy a Segway Human Transporter, no matter how affordable they become. I think one thing people have forgotten to mention is how ridiculously retarded everyone looks while riding one of these fucking eyesores. Like retards of the 22nd century, if I do say so myself.

Ride on, Corky. Ride your bastard gyroscopic contraption into the retarded sunset, what with your extra 23rd chromosome and all.

Vamanos, hombres...tonight we cruise the streets of mongoloid city.

This message has been edited by whiskey@throttle on December 05, 2001 at 10:14 AM

Suddenly, you feel like you have on a pair of magic sneakers, and instead of falling forward, you go sailing across the room."

Unlike cars, they are cheap, clean, efficient, maneuverable. Unlike bicycles, they are designed specifically to be pedestrian friendly. "A bike is too slow and light to mix with trucks in the street but too large and fast to mix with pedestrians on the sidewalk," he argues. "Our machine is compatible with the sidewalk. Turning what would have been a 30-minute walk into a 10-minute ride. Shrink cities to the point where cars "will not only be undesirable, but unnecessary."

What ...What is this miricle invention you ask? What is going to change the world as we know it? What is going to end walking forever? I give you the Electric Razor!!

Sure it doesn't balance by itself, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper and basically does the same thing for pedestrians. Oh wait ...the segway is all about the brand new technology right? < Here's how to make a self balancing robot (with source code) from 1997 >
I may be an idiot, but I don't get my opinions from Good Morning America.

y0 peep my phat new g-ride, I be rollin over you hataz like da playa I am. Bling! Bling!

Where be da milk up in dis piece?!

------------------
LET'S GET AWESOME

Processors: Fuck if we try to slow down anymore we'll topple over dont activate the breaks any harder!

SMACK in to tree.

you now have a lovely crumpled heap of metal worth roughly 񘘐 or whatever this thing costs.

------------------
Woman has choked. Buy new woman.

quote:

---

Originally posted by aventari:
(funny pic here)

---

HAHAHA it's the icy hot stuntaz!!! Flamer, Ice, and Blade, or something like that, right?

edit: oops

This message has been edited by chmod on December 06, 2001 at 04:35 AM