Segway has an epiphany, introduces RMP hyperdirectional transporter

Make no mistake -- we've been blasting the ridiculousness of the two-wheeled scooter for eons now, but in one fell swoop, Segway just worked itself back into hearts. Introduced at this year's RoboBusiness, the RMP "hyperdirectional" transporter looks to hold at least one Earthling (up to 400-pounds) and can seemingly scoot about in any direction. Unfortunately, that's about it for details -- no release date or any juicy stuff like that -- but if the term "fifty thousand dollars" scares you whatsoever, the video posted after the break is probably as close as you'll ever get, anyway.

MAKE @ RobotBusiness 2008 Segway RMP - video powered by Metacafe

[Max @ Apr 8th 2008 5:52PM]

there is already a forklift using this technology. Its not groundbreaking.

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 5:54PM]

hey, Max stole the '94 Taurus!

[Paul @ Apr 8th 2008 6:01PM]

exactly. they use equipment like this on aircraft carriers since it's especially good at navigating tight spaces.

[Paul @ Apr 8th 2008 6:08PM]

i did a little footwork. this special type of wheel is called a mecanum wheel. it's been around since 1973.

[Jordan @ Apr 8th 2008 6:43PM]

Engadgets sole purpose is not to blog about new technology, but technology in general. If you notice Engadget makes posts about laptops and proccessors etc... These have been around for a while, they aren't new, but we still enjoy to hear about them. This has been around, it isn't new, but I still want to hear about it.

[superted @ Apr 8th 2008 6:54PM]

@ Paul, thank you - i was amazed by this, and have been even more amazed to see it has been around for 30 odd years.

good dirt digging ol' chap :)

[coolbho3000 @ Apr 8th 2008 9:47PM]

Our FIRST robotics competition entry used Mecanum wheels. That was created by high schoolers.

[NovaLand @ Apr 9th 2008 1:05AM]

FORKLIFT is what this is good for. As a personal transportation, it would probably suck, since humans tend to need to know where it's going to keep its balance. If you expect it to go "forward", but instead it goes right, u will have a hard time not falling off.

I understand why the dude is sitting down when traveling on that one in the video.

[trentyn @ Apr 9th 2008 1:20AM]

quick question for all you who said "this tech is currently in use"

is it operated by a user who directs it by altering his center of gravity??

[LondonConsultant @ Apr 9th 2008 6:07AM]

Other vehicles may have Mecanum wheels, but this Segway is the first "hyperdirectional" vehicle. It can also travel up and down, through other dimensions and through time. That's why it's easily worth $50,000.

[J-man @ Apr 9th 2008 1:08PM]

I know the owner of the patent, he "sold" the license technology to a "company" in Seattle last month. Bea coup $$$!!! I seen this take 5,000lbs and drag like it was a sack of feathers.

Sad to say, it's not Segway invention but now Segway technology.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 5:53PM]

up to 400 pounds? so the lazy less-fatty fatties will use this until the lack of walking turns their corpulent sacks into a girth unable to be supported by this machine? i likes, i likes a lot.

[ingus @ Apr 8th 2008 6:00PM]

i would pay to see what would happen to this contraption if someone 400+ lb sat on it... :P

[Dan Davis @ Apr 8th 2008 6:14PM]

400 lbs = can accomodate Americans

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 6:17PM]

you forgot to add "below average sized"

[lane @ Apr 8th 2008 7:07PM]

>400 can use the forklift technology listed above

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 8th 2008 11:49PM]

dan, do us all a favor and fuck off. Not every American is 400 LBS. Maybe a majority is overweight but hell I myself need to loose around 25-30 to get into my supposed ideal weight and I'm hardly atypical. I'm really sick of how people love to laugh at Americans and their weight. Its stupid, its a stereotype, and it really needs to stop.

[Paulmichael @ Apr 9th 2008 2:44AM]

Don't freak out over Dan's comment. I'm sure he wouldn't be making a comment like that in person. Besides, 400 pounds isn't in the realm of overweight, that's more like extremely obese. Like, barely alive. It's when you get to that size that you really should consider "assisted suicide" ala The Simpsons' "diePod."

[nh @ Apr 9th 2008 5:32AM]

John, your comment made me laugh. You berate Dan for implying Americans are fat, and then proceed to explain how the majority are overwieght, and how 2 stone is typical. What exactly is your point? That it was an exaggeration? ;)

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 5:53PM]

ok class! GRE word associations:

G.O.B. Bluth ..... Segway
"First!" posters .... Acerguy/Mark/Yomomma
iPhone ..... flamebait
soccer ..... football

Discuss.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 5:56PM]

great. now i have the victory song stuck in my head. i'm going to go do magic now.

[retro77 @ Apr 8th 2008 5:58PM]

Apple = flamebait by M$ fanboys
Microsoft = flamebait by @ fanboys [@ = Apple, like M$ is universal for Microsoft]
Intel = flamebait by AMD fanboys
AMD = flamebait by Intel fanboys
ATI = flamebait by Intel and Nvidia fanboys
Nvidia = flamebait by AMD and ATI fanboys
.
..
...
The list goes on and on

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 8th 2008 6:07PM]

Haha, nerdily enough, I G.O.B.'s 'victory' song as one of my ringtones. Its The Final Countdown by Europe.

One of the most epic songs ever!

[teej @ Apr 8th 2008 6:19PM]

for the record, Acerguy is also the "but will it play Doom? / but does it blend?" guy.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 6:20PM]

without him we are nothing.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 6:23PM]

lowest - thanks, man. i actually didn't know the name of the song. now i can put that in my crazy awesome rotation along with dancing queen, eye of the tiger, and total eclipse of the heart.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 8th 2008 6:37PM]

No problem.

Whenever my phone rings people gravitate towards me for autographs, its outrageous!

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 6:43PM]

those are balls. close up balls always look like landscape.

[BrettB @ Apr 8th 2008 7:32PM]

Well said phanbouy. You've pissed me off elsewhere, but all is forgiven.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 8th 2008 9:40PM]

@Phanbouy:
By the way, have you seen where the Arrested Development movie is finally listed as "pre-production... 2009 release" on IMDB?

I'd rather the show return, but a movie will be fine. Who knows... maybe it'll prompt the return of the show.

[Matt E. @ Apr 8th 2008 10:14PM]

@retro77:
You insensitive clod! I happen to be a list fanboy!

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 11:12PM]

i have not, Tobias! that's great news. time to get me a Final Countdown ringtown as well!

[chainofcommand02 @ Apr 9th 2008 12:02AM]

@Phanbouy and Tobias
Well a movie would be nice, of course, it doesn't automatically mean a new series. Firefly/Serenity is the glaring example.

[trentyn @ Apr 9th 2008 1:20AM]

@ Anonymoose: you got a copy of Hbloxx - "I got the Power" on that jukebox catalogue?

[Draaaainage! @ Apr 8th 2008 5:54PM]

This is a dream come true! It will make parallel parking in the Segway area of the Battlestar Galactica convention ("BatGalCon" for those of you not in the know) MUCH easier.

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 6:02PM]

I'm John Travolta and I approved of this plug.

[Matt E. @ Apr 8th 2008 10:18PM]

Geekiest post, evar!

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 8th 2008 5:54PM]

The wheels remind me of gorilla digits.

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 6:01PM]

Designed in California by Terry Gilliam

[Joe @ Apr 8th 2008 6:08PM]

I'm leaning towards French Cruller's.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 8th 2008 8:11PM]

@Joe:
Delicious either way!

[retro77 @ Apr 8th 2008 5:55PM]

So I can use this, gain weight until I'm 400lbs, then I gotta go back to walking again? Meh.

[Cal @ Apr 8th 2008 6:09PM]

Nope, then you get two.

[retro77 @ Apr 8th 2008 6:10PM]

Good thinking ;)

[computer.dude.28 @ Apr 8th 2008 7:18PM]

One for each cheek, right? :D

[Bobs @ Apr 8th 2008 10:00PM]

more like lobes

[STIEN @ Apr 8th 2008 5:57PM]

nice. i am just wondering how it is controlled. it looks like in the video that it was being remote controlled. i wouldnt wanna be controlled by someone else. hopefully its just a matter of leaning in the direction u wanna go. because a hand controller would suck

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 5:59PM]

you don't want to be controlled by someone else yet you still get dressed by your mom. for shame, man, for shame.

[retro77 @ Apr 8th 2008 5:59PM]

True, I wouldnt be able to hold my beer and drive this thing.

[STIEN @ Apr 8th 2008 8:30PM]

@Anonymoose

your just jealous because you have to dress your mom. and undress. plus your dad and little sister. and if your ambitious, your pet cat with three legs