Video: Wii Nunchuk controls motorized Beancat chair
By Darren Murph 
posted June 7th 2009 7:59PM
posted June 7th 2009 7:59PM
[Via MAKE]
posted June 7th 2009 7:59PM
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beancat?
Since Beancat is capitalized, maybe it's a brand?
Maybe it's got a caterpillar drive . . . a new propulsion system that renders it undetectable to sonar.
This is why the minimum driving age is 16, and that's just for a permit.
That is Coooll!!! Nice Job!!
Now we must think what we can do with that thing....Should be a good thing for people that cant walk..much easier to navigate
Do you actually use the accelerometer or just the joystick? But still that's pretty awesome, it kind of looks like the chairs form Wall-E.
On Ebay in 3, 2...
In all seriousness, this thing looks like a blast, now all it needs is a V8.
*donk* Shoulda had a V8...
looks really lame on streets
how did they do it?
Virgin Alert
The early 90's called....
Oh my god. I don't have to walk anymore?
*sold*
/wishesthatthesecouldsomehowmakeitupthestairs
That's awesome, but can we see a person that can actually steer it?
wow this will turn America's youth into buckets of lard
Like most aren't already?
well it will accelerate the process
Wow the second kid looks like he is having absolutely no fun at all.
He doesn't know how lucky he is to be on a magic orange chair.
that 2nd kid doesn't look too enthused
That kid seems really excited by it
This will revolutionize personal transport.
Cities will be built around this amazing device!
Well, probably not. Possibly college dorms though.
Ok, maybe just individual dorm rooms.
At least until al gore blames global warming on motorized beancat chairs.
No more getting up to get a beer from the fridge, so that's something.
That's some serious skater hair on the second kid.
From the guy pictured above and the fact that is a fucking beanbag I am lead to believe this thing runs on Hemp Oil and half eaten veggie burritos.
You put your WEED in it, MAAANNN ! ! !
It looks like the only thing it can do is go backwards and turn right... I'd expect a few more control out of it, especially with all the info one of those Nunchuks can put out...
As one of the two co-creators of the Beancat, I can offer a few answers. The name was simply a play on the Caterpillar brand, since the steering is similar to that of many small landscaping vehicles. It turns by speeding up one side of the drive as opposed to having a steering linkage and mechanism.
It does actually steer nicely, when fully operational. The reason the videos are all so loopy is such: The wheels are driven by motors geared down with sprockets. We actually busted a chain on the second day (it usually sees much more abusive riders- i.e. adults who may or may not have been drinking) and so the thing was actually only driving in circles. The kids didn't care, though, so we just let them keep going until the batteries gave out. Unfortunately the only video that seems ti be around is from day 2...
The accelerometer is not used in this version- the next one will. We actually think it would be really fun(ny) to use the wii steering wheel, so that it is completely wireless.
Are you the guy in the picture?
Ed is that guy in the picture. If anybody likes this kind of stuff and would like to build something similar or completely different check out Monkey Wrench Design: http://www.mwdes.com. The bean bag chair was the the first project created at Monkey Wrench Design, and we're working on a ton of other fun stuff.