Segway Human Transporter HT-V1A passes FCC

Been a little while since we've seen a new consumer device for sale from the Human Transporter people, but it looks like Segway's doing something in those secretive facilities of theirs, and it's not just thinking up four-wheeled versions of the classic. We don't yet know what the HT-V1A (model 2014500001) is, or what the hell it was doing in the FCC, but it was filed twice and approved for use in transmitting on Bluetooth frequencies (between 2405 and 2475MHz). We can think of a few things you could do with a wireless Segway, but we'll save our distant hopes for Segway RC racing for another day, since details are a little slim yet to speculate much more than, say, the addition of Bluetooth GPS guidance capabilities.

Update: lookey lookey here. We got word from a Segway insider that the segway's not what's passing the FCC, but instead it's a detachable wireless display. Among other things, it will apparently allow the Segway owner to deactivate the unit while a rider's on it (in case it's been stolen). Very interesting.

[_man1c_ @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:33PM]

would not mind a Segway.. those things are pretty neat. although not sure if itd work round my area to well. not alot of sidewalks, and the cars on the road are murder... but still if i could leave my car in the garage, and ride this baby thatd be awesome.

[joevennix @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:37PM]

I doubt it's a segway, but instead some kind of wheel-chair device that has the ability to stand on two wheels, putting the handicapped person at eye level with other people, a privilege, unfortunately, they don't usually get to experience.

I recommend the book 'Code Name: Ginger.' Tells all about Dean Camen.

[Shaun White @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:37PM]

the wait will not be long. that is all.

[Mattazuma @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:52PM]

Did you notice the "Made in China" on the label?

I thought they made the Segways in New Hampshire?

[SLVRMUSTANG @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:07PM]

This might just be a device thats internal to a new gen segway, the electronics uint made in China, and the rest of the unit probably still made in the US. The founder of segway owns his own island and has his own country now (no kidding) so it wouldnt surprise me if prodction moved offshore.

[Jack Frost @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:11PM]

Maybe it is one of those flying disc things...you know, like the thing Static or The Green Goblin rides. Granted the Green Goblins isn't a flying disc. But he's much cooler than Static.

[kaztm @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:11PM]

It would be cool if you could "call" your Segway like Batman calls his Batmobile. But Bluetooth range makes it unlikely...oh wait, perhaps they will use mesh network?

[ghostrider @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:14PM]

The HT tag seems to be reserved for transporting humans (i.e. Human Transport), so I think we cna rule out RC racing.
There have been rumours for quite some time that Segway is planning a major expansion into China courtesy of the state goverment, which would like to bolster it's economy and mobilize its population without further straining the enviroment (or at least mitigating the strain somewhat). The rumour went that Segways would be manufactured out of cheaper parts, but also sell for far less then they do now: closer to $1k then $4k.
However the picture is curious, as it appears to be the underside of an object, and it's hard to see how an object shaped like that would wind up being a Segway, or even an accessory to a Segway.
So...
It's probably a UFO.

[Jake @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:18PM]

Nice catch on the "Made in China."

Is this a gigantic, car-crushing version of the Segway that people actually sit inside?

[Zach @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:27PM]

maybe it's more of a Teleporter transporter.... it can teleport an entire human up to 30 feet at 11 mbps :P

"Two to beam up" syncing... syncing....

[BeDammit @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:45PM]

From everything I read it sounds like a bluetooth key fob.

I don't know much about seqways.. but maybe they are making a key system that will work better than the RFID stuff that has been cloned recently.

[Jared Boehm @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:47PM]

Did you guys notice the size of this thing? It's really small... the logo and "Made in China" are on a CR2430 (watch) battery door. It also says "FOB Label information" in the upper left... my guess is that this is some kind of keychain remote fob thingamajigger for a new Segway.

[Rex @ Aug 3rd 2006 6:58PM]

It must be used for the medical field to transport patients!!!

[drewpdog @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:07PM]

manufactured in china assembled in the us just like a honda just diffrent asian contry

[Ryan @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:14PM]

It looks like a watch? maybe for cruise control?

[Shadyman @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:44PM]

Looks like a bluetooth remote control for a 4-wheeled segway

[Wry Cooter @ Aug 4th 2006 12:52AM]

My bet is that the bluetooth deals with an improvement or variation on the current key system (each segway has a trio of keys, not only to prevent theft, but also, to limit the speed as a user is riding).

More likely it may be for communicating with a GPS device.

[NLN @ Aug 4th 2006 9:59AM]

It's a new key FOB. At least that's what the test file document on the FCC web says...

[casey @ Aug 4th 2006 11:51PM]

wait u guys are all looking past a stupid comment by engadget... Four wheeled segway? how would that be a segway? it loses the inovation, unless they can come up with some way to pitch the fact that all other four wheeled vehicles cant stay balanced on their own...

[Rodzilla @ Aug 6th 2006 9:58AM]

found this, this seems like a interesting use for blue tooth and a segway http://www.theredkey.net/index.php?topic=LocalSeg

[E T @ Aug 6th 2006 9:53PM]

I doubt Segway would allow anybody to deactivate the unit whilst a rider is on it. They got sued by somebody who was running on a surface charge and did a faceplant. If they held down a button or something stuck in their pocket imagine what would happen. I look foward to a segway withs safety still in mind.