segway
Latest
Segway is now a Chinese company thanks to Ninebot and Xiaomi
Can't say we saw this coming, but Segway has just been fully acquired by a Chinese company called Ninebot, which also specializes in self-balancing human transporters. The irony here is that Segway actually accused its then competitor of IP infringement just a little over six months ago, according to Bloomberg. Unsurprisingly, as a three-year-old startup, Ninebot needed a little help from others with this purchase: the same event announced that Ninebot received an $80 million investment from Xiaomi -- who's got plenty of cash to play with -- plus three venture capital firms, but there was no mention of how much of that went towards said acquisition. What's also unclear is the future of the Segway brand, but it'll no doubt provide Xiaomi another gateway into the US market.
Getting around on Inmotion's not-a-Segway
Tired of walking, but can't quite cough up the scratch for a Segway? Say hi to the Inmotion R2 in the gallery below. It's a two-wheeled, personal electric vehicle that glides along at a leisurely 9MPH for around 18 miles. It's self-balancing -- you lean slightly forward or backward to move in each direction. Harder leans mean faster speed; tilt the removable handle left or right and you'll start doing donuts -- something Honda's similar contraption does hands-free. Even for this writer, who's never gotten on one of the contraptions before (nor anything even remotely similar), it took about four or five minutes to get the hang of it. After that? No real problems. If you get tired of riding, or perhaps there are too many people around to weave around, you can pull it behind you with the motor assisting -- you won't be dragging dead weight. Perhaps the most interesting aspect, though, is what it can do when connected to your smartphone via a companion app.
This $295 battery-powered unicycle could replace your Segway
Ah, the sweet memory of learning to ride a bike with training wheels! My hands are sweaty, and my ego a bit damaged after spending a half-hour learning to ride a battery-powered unicycle called the Pinwheel. This $295 (wholesale) gadget is one of the more interesting finds here at Computex 2014 -- if you've been looking to ditch that Segway for a more portable mode of transport, this may be it. It's made by Shenzhen-based company TOPJOY, and it really is a thrill to ride.
New Segway Patroller gives mall cops a third wheel
When you think of a Segway, usually a self-balancing, slightly dorky two-wheeled contraption comes to mind, right? Well, forget all that. The company has just committed heresy by launching the SE-3 Patroller, a three-wheeled, front-steering model. It's targeted exclusively at law-enforcement officers, meter enforcement types and, ahem, security personnel -- which make up the company's most lucrative market by far. It's highly visible in order to deter crime with headlights, brake lights, sirens, emergency lights and a rather non-functional-looking (but adorable) visor. It also packs rider detection to shut the vehicle off when not occupied and a 4.3-inch data screen. All of that comes in at $12,000 for a vehicle you can't even sit down on -- unlike arch-competitor T3 Motion's model. Still, there's very little chance cops'll tip the thing over, a common Segway blunder that doesn't exactly shock and awe the bad guys.
FDA approves a life-like prosthetic arm from the man who invented the Segway
After years of testing, the FDA today approved a new type of prosthetic arm that its makers claim will bring a whole new level of control to amputees. Known as the "Luke" arm or DEKA Arm System, Segway inventor Dean Kamen has been involved in its development and unlike existing prosthetics, it can understand multiple commands at once, giving its wearers "near-natural" control of the limb. As demonstrated in the videos embedded after the break, tests show wearers can get back to easily performing tasks like using keys and locks, brushing their hair, removing papers from an envelope, or picking up an egg without breaking it. While we've seen demos using other mind control techniques, the one approved for sale does its magic with electromyogram (EMG) sensors activated by the wearer contracting muscles close to where the prosthesis is attached or on their feet, which an embedded computer translates into movement.
Tesla hires former Segway, Apple hardware engineering lead to develop new cars
So what's next for Tesla? Company founder and CEO Elon Musk has publicly stated his desire to make a more affordable EV plus cars that (mostly) drive themselves, and new hire Doug Field is in position to lead that charge. Joining Tesla as the Vice President of Vehicle Programs, he will be "responsible for driving development of new vehicles." We'll have to wait and see what those new Teslas look like, but his resume immediately shows why Musk is interested in someone with his experience. Field began his career as an engineer at Ford and later served as the CTO of Segway before moving over to Apple in 2008, where he's been the VP of Mac Hardware Engineering leading development on the Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and iMac.
Toyota begins public testing of its Segway killer, reminds us Segway was a thing (video)
Originally teased five years ago, Toyota's Segway-killing Winglet is finally taking to the streets of Japan for public testing. While the original device was designed to be steered by users' knees, the revamped edition now contains a familiar steering pillar-and-wheels combination. The trials are due to run through March 2016 with the aim of proving that the Winglet is safe, functional and will save shoe leather on your commute to work. Those curious to see what the Japanese version of infamous Segway fan George Oscar Bluth Jr. (or, you know, Justin Bieber) looks like, head past the break for the video.
Butlers, lunar rovers, snakes and airboats: the best of Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute
How was your week? We got to spend a couple of days trekking around the Carnegie Mellon campus in Pittsburgh, PA to check out some of the latest projects from the school's world renowned Robotics Institute -- a trip that culminated with the bi-annual induction ceremony from the CMU-sponsored Robot Hall of Fame. Given all the craziness of the past seven days, you might have missed some of the awesomeness, but fear not, we've got it all for you here in one handy place -- plus a couple of videos from the trip that we haven't shown you yet. Join us after the break to catch up.
Robotic butlers, bartenders and receptionists at Carnegie Mellon (video)
At school like Carnegie Mellon, it sort of figures that you'd find robots just about everywhere, performing the sorts of tasks we've traditionally left to us more fleshy types. In the two days we've spent on campus, we've seen 'bots do just about everything -- some far more autonomously than others. Take Roboceptionist -- the robotic secretary was one of the first intelligent beings we encountered upon arriving on the premises, artificial or otherwise, greeting us from a wooden kiosk near the entrance to Newell-Simon Hall. The receptionist's creators named him Marion "Tank" Lefleur -- but don't call him "Marion." It's really a sort of a "Boy Named Sue" scenario, and calling him by his birth name is a surefire way of getting on his bad side. When he's not getting irritated, Tank's tasked with helping you find things on campus -- people, halls, food -- by way of a small keyboard. He's got a surprisingly complex backstory that informs his answers. Ask him how his mom and dad are doing and you're bound to get some fairly bizarre responses -- same with more straight forward questions about finding a place to eat on campus, for that matter.%Gallery-169179%
Double Robotics gives your iPad wheels, brings telepresence to the masses (video)
Walking iPads aside, usable telepresence remains one of geekdom's purest goals. Being able to attend meetings, without the minor irritation of actually being there, has been a motivator for professionals and hobbyists alike. Double Robotics, on the other hand, feel that they've spotted an opportunity. By leveraging the computing power of the iPad, coupled with some smart design, it has created the "Double," a self-balancing motorized iPad stand. You'll need a pair of Apple slates to get going, one to peer into and use as a controller (via an app), another to project your face, and act as the seeing eye (via the front-facing camera). Best of all, this is much more affordable than many existing options, rolling in at $1,999 if you pre-order ($2,499 otherwise), shipping in December -- iPads not included. Facetime on wheels? Why didn't we think of that? Roll past the break for the video.
Segway Seg-Link kit hits the FCC, injects dreams of PC-based transporter tinkering
Own a Segway? You're about to own something else, too. That "something else" is better known as the USB-enabled Seg-Link kit, a downright mysterious new product that has shown itself today tromping through the FCC's database. Details are exceedingly light, and even the user manual doesn't do a stellar job of explaining the device's true purpose; best we can tell, it'll enable Segway owners to connect their two-wheeled transporters to a PC. Beyond that, we're left to imagine a world of Dinan-like horsepower flashes, tinkering with compression calculations, adjusting gear ratios and implementing other tactics learned in one of the fourteen Fast & Furious films. We're guessing it'll be on sale in the US of A within a few months -- till then, feel free to drop your hypotheses on what it'll bring in comments below.
S-Walker Electric Transporter hands-on (video)
In an IFA galaxy far far away lives the China Pavilion. And on the far side of the outer ring of the China Pavilion, buried amongst a plethora of steamers, curling irons, and television mounts, you may stumble upon the S-Walker -- though you're just as likely to miss it. And what might an S-Walker be? Well, if we're being precise, it's a "Speed-Walker, Sky-Walker, whatever," according to its German booth master. Luke would be proud. Lesser beings may recognize it as a KIRF Segway, designed in Germany and handmade in China, just a mere ten days ago. Its biggest strength lies in price -- the thing is expected to retail for €2,500 (about $3,550) sometime in the middle of next year. We suppose this yet-to-be-released electric transporter is here to serve warehouse workers, couriers, and the millions of college students who every day dream of zooming across campus atop a pair of motorized wheels, but simply couldn't justify spending an entire semester's tuition on a Segway. We spent a few minutes riding the world's first (and only) functional S-Walker around the rather deserted International Hall, and while very much still a prototype, the battery powered contraption felt peppy enough and responded accurately to commands, moving forward as we leaned to the front, and backing up as we shifted weight to the rear. You control direction using a small handlebar-mounted joystick, rather than by leaning from side-to-side as you would on a Segway. The designers capped speed at 10 kilometers per hour for the IFA demo, but production models will be boosted to 30 km/h, and it's theoretically capable of reaching 100 km/h (but that'll likely require some potentially-illegal hacking on your part). Roll on past the break to see the S-Walker in action. And may the force be with you.%Gallery-132596%
Audi A0 monocycle concept takes you for a jaunt around the park (video)
Segways can be tiring, what with all that required standing, but now even the laziest among us can enjoy the self-propelled fun with a sitdown solution. The Audi A0 concept, developed as a joint collaboration between Technische Universität München and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, combines an electric motor with a single, hollow wheel for a self-stabilizing, tilt-controlled stroll. Cruising along at a maximum speed of up to 15 km/h (that's 9 mph to you Yanks), this leisure-minded monocycle isn't meant for rush hour commuting, but can be folded up to fit in your car's trunk for a casual ride around the great outdoors. Don't expect to get too far on that sightseeing trek though, as the cycle's battery only lasts for up to an hour. Curious to see this one-wheeler in motion? Then skip past the break for a full video demo. [Thanks, Angel]
Wii Fit balance board hack takes a virtual Segway ride around Google's mapped world (video)
You can do a lot in seven hours -- fly coast-to-coast, slow-cook a pot roast, create a Google Maps-navigating, Wii Fit-controlled virtual Segway. Wait, what? Yes, that Nintendo-branded, dust-collecting relic of holidays past has been given a new lease on life thanks to an intrepid troop of Ivy-educated geeks, and a seven-hour hackathon. The marathon modding session, held by Stanford University's SVI Hackspace, banded together a like-minded set of overachieving modders to produce a balance board-guided Street View romp through Google Maps. The students' hack connects the Wii Fit board to OS X via the Osculator app, with a Node.js server processing the data and Socket.io handling board-to-browser communication. A Google Earth plug-in and pre-rendered Segway were all that was left to complete this foot-mapped joy ride through our digitized world. Video demo awaits you after the break.
Man builds DIY Segway for $434, begins casting 'Arrested Development' fan film (video)
This is Petter Forsberg. He's just like you or me, with one important difference: he built his own Segway for €300 ($434). Granted, it doesn't look quite as slick as Dean Kamen's off-the-shelf self-balancing electric vehicle, but if the videos are to be believed (and there are plenty of hi-def ones to choose from), the two-wheeler moves pretty well, particularly when spinning atop old stone structures or beneath a Swedish flag. Forsberg has a breakdown of the project over on his page, which you can find in the source link -- but be sure to check out the video below before heading over. It's not the first DIY Segway we've seen, but darn if it doesn't make us want to find some electric scooters to tear apart.
Tilto personal transporter looks like seated Segway, does donuts in Argentine parking lot
Remember how the Segway revolutionized personal transportation? Neither do we, but this Tilto single-person electric vehicle is really gonna go places. Like, around the parking lot -- "manos libres!" Named for the two-step maneuver you'll use to get going (tilt and go), the battery-powered Tilto can move forward, backwards, and sideways at its top speed of 20km/h (12 mph) without the need for pedals or a steering wheel. You'll be able to travel 15 km with each charge, but that should give you plenty of time to score a traffic ticket in the UK, or to roll a safe distance away from screaming fans after your next concert in Arizona. Tilto is little more than a "prototipo experimental" at this point, without a release date or any plans for production, but roll past the break to see how it works.
Visualized: jousting on a Segway
Remember the olden days? When honor and valor were the only things that mattered and vast metallic armor suits were less of a laughing matter and more of a practical necessity? Neither do we, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying a good video gaming romp through such settings when we have the time for it. We don't know that we'd necessarily care to reenact medieval battle scenes physically, but that's exactly what a witty new marketing campaign for Washington's Lottery has done. It asks simply "what have you and your friends always wanted to do" and then answers its own query with the nutty answer of Segway jousting. See the resulting video, which was partially shot in Phantom slow-mo, after the break.
Solowheel self-balancing unicycle is as easy to ride as it is to afford (video)
If a company makes as bold a statement as "we reinvented the wheel" when introducing a gadget you know we've gotta check 'em out and see what the hubbub's about. Well, at the International Toy Fair in New York, Inventist has introduced its "Solowheel" product, which is essentially a self-balancing unicycle for personal mobility. We've seen similar products before, but the convenient carrying handle and lack of seat make it decidedly more portable than the competition. This $1,500 Segway-esque transporter uses gyroscopes to stay balanced, but places your legs on either side of a single central wheel. It's said to have a max speed of 12 miles per hour and a battery that should last for about 12 miles. We tried out the interesting device and found it entertaining, albeit quite a bit difficult. Getting started is the hardest part -- especially if you don't have anything to lean against -- but maintaining balance and still trying to lean your body to turn takes quite a bit of practice as well. That's right, there are no physical steering controls whatsoever and instead you use your body weight to control direction and speed. We could barely get going in our brief attempts on the device, but the rep on the floor was more skilled and made us realize we really need to build up our street cred. The whole concept is really a bit wild, and the company envisions people using these to do things like get to the train instead of on a bicycle or in a cab. We're not quite sure your average person is ready to slim down to one wheel in life just yet, but maybe in the future they will be. Still, as a toy it's most definitely intriguing, and you can see our horrid attempts at riding it in the video posted after the break or hit the more coverage link for another video of more skilled riders in action. %Gallery-116652%
British man convicted for riding Segway on the sidewalk, can't ride on the street either
The United Kingdom's Department for Transport passed regulations making Segways subject to road traffic laws four and a half years ago, which effectively banned their use on Britain's sidewalks. And now, after years of apparent non-enforcement, UK's Highway Act of 1835 has finally claimed its first Segway-riding victim. An unemployed factory worker was convicted of riding a motor vehicle on a "pavement", which apparently is another word for sidewalk in the Queen's English, and was ordered to pay a total of £340 ($540) when the court found that Segways qualify as motor vehicles under the 176 year-old law. Given that Segways don't meet the safety standards required to be legally used on UK roads, it looks like Brits who own Woz's preferred mode of transport are exclusively limited to tooling around on private property lest they risk similar governmental retribution.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: sexy green cars, glass strong as steel, and Tianjin's Eco-City revealed
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week Inhabitat brought you unveilings of the world's hottest new eco vehicles as we hit the floor of the Detroit Auto Show and rounded up the seven sexiest green cars on display. We also took a first look at Toyota's new Tesla-infused RAV4, and we caught up with Venturi's powerhouse electric concept car. And if unconventional transportation spins your wheels, don't miss the shape shifting Uno 3 electric scooter and this masterfully-crafted Tron segway that could out-geek a lightcycle. We also looked at several groundbreaking building systems that stand to make our cities stronger and more sustainable, starting with a new type of flexible superglass that is stronger than steel. Meanwhile, Sweden is soaking up body heat from public places to help heat buildings, China unveiled plans for a futuristic eco city, and several offices in Minnesota flipped on a set of souped-up ceiling lights capable of broadcasting wireless internet. In other news, the world of renewable energy is jolting for joy as Southwest Wind Power unveiled the world's first fully smart grid-enabled windturbine. We also checked out a new ultracapacitor that can charge a power drill in 60 seconds, and researchers are working on energy-generating fabrics that can transform your t-shirt into a power plant. Finally, this week we wrapped up our CES coverage with a look at the best green gadgets from this year's show, and we flexed our creative capacity with 5 tech projects for kids that foster creativity and critical thinking.
