Sony patents Segway-esque skateboard

It's not quite a hoverboard, but Sony looks to be set to take at least two wheels of the venerable earthbound skateboard (and apparently make up for them in size), if this recent patent its been granted is any indication. Known only as the "vehicle steerable by movement of center of gravity" for the time being, the board appears to be fairly similar in operation to the Segway, with the carrot-nosed rider simply required to lean slightly in the direction s/he wants to go to get the wheels' independent electric motors into gear. Those worried about the prospect of a motor-assisted face-plant will also apparently be able to opt for the relative safety of three of four wheels. Sony also seems to have other possibilities for the technology in mind, including a bicycle configuration and a two-boarded setup, with one foot controlling each. This just being a patent, of course, there's no indication as to when it'll actually be available or how much it'll cost.

[Via New Scientist]

[sean @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:35PM]

yeah, you're the only one to notice it. which is why the article refers to the "carrot-nosed rider."

[Alex @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:00PM]

Is it a PlayStation add-on? LOL. I'll be glad to use it!

[az_runner @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:16PM]

I got to try out a Segway skateboard in October that they were demoing at a small gadget event in NY. It is exactly what this drawing is. It was awesome, but it did take some time to get used to. On the deck of the board was two v shaped pressure sensors (one for right and left foot). Add pressure to your toes and it steers to the right. Add pressure to your heals and it would steer left. add pressure to one toe and one heal and it would rotate in place. Lean the deck forward it would move forward, and back would go back. The tricky part was getting off the damn thing.

Anyway, I don't know how the whole patent thing works, but segway already has it. How's that going to work?

[Mr.Ortiz @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:23PM]

Yeah, I didn't know you could patent a slightly modified version of someone else's patent.

[... @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:57PM]

Patenting something similar to something else has been the case for over a hundred years. Most people call it 'innovation'.

The classic example is of the paper clip, the original coiled design was patented by Erlman J. Wright, but 10 years later the Schooleys shortened the inside leg so that it would not catch on the paper. They even noted on their patent that it was similar to previous designs.

[Jake Tobak @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:23PM]

Oh Sony, if only you could have an original idea...
http://www.hackaday.com/2005/04/27/the-poor-mans-segway/

[jamma @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:33PM]

Jake
"Oh Sony, if only you could have an original idea..."

Sony have had loads of original ideas, ever heard of the SIXAXIS? :P

[Kevlar @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:21PM]

HAHA! Jamma, you just made my day!

[bobvilla @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:54PM]

the segway itself was originally this. engineers of the iBot used to ride around on it for fun. Once the iBot was licensed out to Johnson and Johnson, they developed the Segway from that board with wheels to what it is now.

[machfive @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:56PM]

"This just being a patent, of course, there's no indication as to when it'll actually be available or how much it'll cost."

The fact that it's Sony, though, guarantees that when it does debut it will be significantly more expensive than superior products from their competitors, its advertisements will insult your intelligence, it will use a proprietary model of the laws of physics to operate, and it will explode.

[Ken @ Jan 3rd 2007 4:00PM]

"The fact that it's Sony, though, guarantees that when it does debut it will be significantly more expensive than superior products from their competitors, its advertisements will insult your intelligence, it will use a proprietary model of the laws of physics to operate, and it will explode."

Priceless. Certainly using it any and everytime Sony is ever mentioned in my presence again.

[bobbysoccer4 @ Jan 8th 2007 7:28AM]

thank you so much for grasping the situation so well

[Andrew Jones @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:02PM]

Clearly this is an attempt to vamp up the highly competitive (and lucrative) computer-controlled christmas decorations market. Clearly, that's a Snowman on the deck of that skateboard. With their newfound mobility, these fiends of winter will surely seize their opportunity to overtake their human masters.
I for one welcome our new frozen overlords. All hail King Slurpee!

[Ali @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:36PM]

Looks like pinocchio...

[3rdsun @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:37PM]

where do they come up with these drawings, doodling on toilet paper while taking a shit?

[Pitspawn @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:46PM]

Wow real high tech looking (/sarcasm) This thing might just sell more than the grenade with boomerang functionality.

[Thomas Gilmore @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:21PM]

Sony and Jack in the Box world domination device! I for one welcome our burger slinging overlords.

[corgilabsG @ Jan 2nd 2007 11:38PM]

that is correct. in fact, incremental improvements are encouraged to keep this novel, useful and perhaps,... safer.

[John Doe @ Jan 2nd 2007 10:48PM]

psst... they took two wheels OFF the skateboard, not OF the skateboard

[Stoobiedoo @ Jan 2nd 2007 11:03PM]

In response to Mr Ortiz, looks like Sony originally had a patent filed in Japan in June of 2003. It looks like the Segway was introduced around 2002 so its very possible that someone at Sony came up with this variation before az_runner or anyone else had made the jump to a skateboard style Segway.

[meoww_haber @ Jan 2nd 2007 11:36PM]

trial lawyers are salivating.

[JBDragon @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:16AM]

Does Sony have ANY Original Idea's anymore. This is outright COPYING. It's a Segway without the handlebar. WOW, Innovative. The Segway was also based on the work done with the IBOT I think it's called, which was the pretty cool Wheel Chair that can do all kinds of neat tricks. Things like climbing up stairs. Standing up on 2 wheels lifting the person up in the Air so they can reach things to talk to a person face to face. The Segway came from that work, from the same person that worked on it. Sony is outright Copying.

What happened to them? From Innovating, to outright COPYING. Sad,... Sad,... Sad.

[Josh* @ Jan 3rd 2007 1:23AM]

PSP killer!

[wayne @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:35AM]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8984409588343283533&q=segway+skateboard
Google video:
Emanual, the segway skateboard, up and down a hallway during UBC E-ball display
Justin rides the self balancing electric skateboard along the hallways in the CEME building, feb 2005
Engineering Physics UBC

[FatalCure @ Jan 3rd 2007 3:31AM]

Carrot nose?

[Dan @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:57AM]

People need to take more care in their terminology with respect to patents. This is the second article I've seen in as many days (one from another site) that incorrectly describes a pending, published patent application as a patent. Sony has not patented this technology, Sony is attempting to patent this technology. Applications are typically published 18 months after they are filed, at which point the general public can see what was disclosed in the application (publication date was November 23 of last year). With the current backlog at the USPTO, it will likely be a couple more years before an examiner even looks at the application.

[JM @ Jan 4th 2007 2:46AM]

Maybe you'll be able to play a Tony Hawk game with it.

[arem @ Jan 4th 2007 11:39AM]

So how does this thing react when you do a kickflip? Those gyros must go nuts...

[Dave @ Jan 7th 2007 3:58PM]

Sony should aim the concerns about trying to make a good Audio Video product. There products have turned into low end consumer products with little or no quality control in them. In the 70's Sony was king. Today, their Audio equiment is low end garbage. They should be concerned about higher end ES equiment. I have had A bad Trinton TV, Bad Sony Vhs, Bad Sony Walkman Pro, Bad Sony Camcorder, and a lemon of a 4 meg digital camera from Sony in the last 4 years..and only till now have just gotten a good 7 meg digital camera from Sony. I always swore by them..no more Sony stuff for me..And now they are working on skateboards! You have to be kidding!!!!!

[Joe @ Jan 7th 2007 5:12PM]

There's a reason Segways have handlebars, as anyone who owns or has ever ridden one will tell you. Watching videos (there are many) of people attempting to ride a self-balancing device which steers without the use of handles makes me think they are seriously clenching the buttcheeks to keep from falling. Handles provide stability as well as a convenient way to steer, and/or hang luggage, making a Segway a useful tool (I use mine instead of a car to go everywhere). By all means play around on a self-balancing skateboard, but I doubt we'll see Tony Hawk-wannabees trickin' out on them at the park.

[Michele @ Jan 7th 2007 9:23PM]

Patents are a very expensive joke. Just because you make claim to an initial design and manage to get a patent, does not mean that someone else can't improve on your idea and obtain their own patent. If their invention can show even the slightest difference, you haven't a leg to stand on. I wonder who invented sneakers? Or Toilet Paper? Or roller skates? How many millions of variations do we have of everyday items? Also, patents are "busted" everyday. Patent examiners aren't neccessariy the sharpest tools in the shed and if you can prove that your item existed a year before a patent was granted, that patent can and will be recalled. There are attorneys who specialize in patent busting.

[Sid Campbell @ Jan 7th 2007 9:42PM]

I would like to see them make a skateboard that flies. Maybe an anti-gravity version...
Do I need a patent to draw one of those contraptions with maybe a spaceman with a pointed nose on it?

[val @ Jan 9th 2007 2:19AM]

Hate to burst your bubble sony... but this has been done already. The wave is out.. in-line skate boards are in stores already.. - my kids love it!

[Paul Taylor @ Jan 12th 2007 1:29AM]

I work as a supervisor for security at a very large mall and we have problems with Heelies and even skateboarders. Is this the next problem we're going to have? The helmit and pads laws need to be expanded before one of these kids get killed or hurt really bad!

[Gjinx @ Mar 21st 2008 7:18PM]

What a wasteful piece of time & crap! It seems to be a product designed specifically for the same lazy idiots who buy Segway walking machines, on a motorless version so that they could sweat their fat asses just a little bit. Shame on you, Sony!
I wonder what those engineers were smoking... Anyway, I just can't wait to see a bunch of fashion victims dummies smash their teeth on the pavement!
My advice is simple and short: grab a skateboard and get the real feeling!