Segway PT

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Segway PT
Black x2 and white i2.jpg
Segway x2 and i2
Type Personal transporter
Inventor Dean Kamen
Inception2001 (2001)
Manufacturer Segway Inc.
Models madei2 SE, x SE, miniPro, robot
Website http://www.segway.com/   Blue pencil.svg

The Segway PT (originally Segway HT) is a two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter by Segway Inc. Invented by Dean Kamen and brought to market in 2001. HT is an initialism for 'human transporter' and PT for 'personal transporter'.

Personal transporter compact portable electrically-powered electric vehicle for transporting an individual

A personal transporter is a class of compact, mostly recent, motorised vehicle for transporting an individual at speeds that do not normally exceed 25 km/h (16 mph). They include electric skateboards, kick scooters, self-balancing unicycles and Segways, as well as gasoline-fueled motorized scooters or skateboards, typically using two-stroke engines of less than 49 cc (3.0 cu in) displacement. Many newer versions use recent advances in vehicle battery and motor-control technologies. They are growing in popularity, and legislators are in the process of determining how these devices should be classified, regulated and accommodated during a period of rapid innovation.

Segway Inc. manufacturer of a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle

Segway Inc. is an American manufacturer of two-wheeled personal transporters, chiefly through its Segway PT and Segway miniPro product lines. Since 2015, it has been owned by the Chinese company Ninebot. Founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1999, the company's name is a homophone of the word "segue".

Dean Kamen American businessman

Dean L. Kamen is an American engineer, inventor, and businessman. He is best known for his invention of the Segway, as well as founding FIRST with Woodie Flowers.

Contents

History

Independent company

The Segway PT (referred to at the time as the Segway HT) was developed from the self-balancing iBOT wheelchair which was initially developed at University of Plymouth, in conjunction with BAE Systems and Sumitomo Precision Products. [1] Segway's first patent was filed in 1994 and granted in 1997 [2] followed by others [3] including one submitted in June 1999 and granted in October 2001. [4]

iBOT

The iBOT is a powered wheelchair developed by Dean Kamen in a partnership between DEKA and Johnson and Johnson's Independence Technology division.

University of Plymouth university in Devon, England

The University of Plymouth is a public university based predominantly in Plymouth, England where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across South West England. With 21,645 students, it is the 38th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students. It has 2,915 staff.

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company. Its headquarters are in London in the United Kingdom with operations worldwide. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe and among the world's largest defence companies; it was ranked as the third-largest based on applicable 2017 revenues. Its largest operations are in the United Kingdom and United States, where its BAE Systems Inc. subsidiary is one of the six largest suppliers to the US Department of Defense. Other major markets include Australia, India, and Saudi Arabia, which account for about 20% of BAE's overall sales. It is the biggest manufacturer in Britain. The company was formed on 30 November 1999 by the £7.7 billion merger of two British companies: Marconi Electronic Systems (MES) – the defence electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company plc (GEC) – and British Aerospace (BAe) – an aircraft, munitions and naval systems manufacturer.

The invention, development, and financing of the Segway was the subject of a book [5] and a leak of information prior to publication of the book and the launch of the product led to excited speculation about the device and its importance. John Doerr speculated that it would be more important than the Internet. [6] South Park devoted an episode to making fun of the hype before the product was released. Steve Jobs was quoted as saying that it was "as big a deal as the PC", [6] (but later retracted that saying that it "sucked", presumably referring to "the design" but commenting about the boutique price, asking, "You're sure your market is upscale consumers for transportation?") [7] The device was unveiled 3 December 2001, following months of public speculation, [8] in Bryant Park, New York City, on the ABC News morning program Good Morning America [9] [10] with the first units delivered to customers in early 2002. [11]

John Doerr American businessman

L. John Doerr is an American investor and venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins in Menlo Park, California. In February 2009, Doerr was appointed a member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board to provide the President and his administration with advice and counsel in trying to fix America's economic downturn. As of July 2017, Forbes ranked Doerr as the 105th richest person in the United States and the 303rd richest person in the world, with a net worth of US$ 7.5 billion as of February 16, 2018. Doerr is the author of Measure What Matters, a book about goal-setting.

<i>South Park</i> American animated sitcom television series

South Park is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Brian Graden for the Comedy Central television network. The show revolves around four boys—Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick—and their bizarre adventures in and around the titular Colorado town. Much like The Simpsons, South Park uses a very large ensemble cast of recurring characters. It became infamous for its profanity and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of topics towards a mature audience. Parker and Stone developed the show from The Spirit of Christmas, two consecutive animated shorts created in 1992 and 1995. The latter became one of the first Internet viral videos, ultimately leading to South Park's production. It debuted in August 1997 with great success, consistently earning the highest ratings of any basic cable program. Subsequent ratings have varied but it remains one of Comedy Central's highest rated shows, and is slated to air in new episodes through 2019.

"The Entity" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and 76th episode of the series overall. "The Entity" originally aired in the United States on November 21, 2001 on Comedy Central. This episode introduces Kyle's cousin Kyle. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have stated the story was inspired by the Segway PT and the general chaotic nature of airports at the time of the production, shortly following 9/11 and the 2001 airline bailout.

The original Segway models were activated for three different speed settings: 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h), 8 mph (13 km/h) with faster turning and 10 mph (16 km/h). [12] Steering of early versions was controlled using a twist grip that varied the speeds of the two motors. The range of the p-Series was 6–10 mi (9.7–16.1 km) on a fully charged nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery with a recharge time of 4–6 hours. In September 2003, the Segway PT was recalled, because if users ignored repeated low battery warnings on the PTs, it could ultimately lead them to fall. [13] With a software patch to version 12.0, the PT would automatically slow down and stop in response to detecting low battery power.

In August 2006 Segway discontinued all previous models and introduced the i2 and x2 products which were steered by leaning the handlebars to the right or left, [14] had a maximum speed of 12.5 mph (20.1 km/h) from a pair of 2 horsepower (1.5 kW) Brushless DC electric motor with regenerative braking and a range of up to 15–25 mi (24–40 km), depending on terrain, riding style and state of the batteries. [15] Recharging took 8–10 hours. The i2 and x2 also introduced the wireless InfoKey which could show mileage and a trip odometer, as well as put the Segway into Security mode, which locked the wheels and set off an alarm if it was moved, and could also be used to turn on the PT from up to 15 feet (4.6 m) away. [12]

Brushless DC electric motor

Brushless DC electric motor also known as electronically commutated motors, or synchronous DC motors, are synchronous motors powered by DC electricity via an inverter or switching power supply which produces an AC electric current to drive each phase of the motor via a closed loop controller. The controller provides pulses of current to the motor windings that control the speed and torque of the motor.

Segways being used by three policemen in Germany. Segway Polizei 4.jpg
Segways being used by three policemen in Germany.

Versions of the product prior to 2011 included (in order of release): [16]

In March 2014, Segway announced third generation designs, including the i2 SE and x2 SE sport, new LeanSteer frame and powerbase designs, with integrated lighting. [18]

Subsidiary of Ninebot

Ninebot Inc., a Beijing-based transportation robotics startup and a Segway rival, acquired Segway in April 2015 having raised $80M from Xiaomi and Sequoia Capital. [19] [20]

In June 2016 the company launched the Segway miniPRO, a smaller self-balancing scooter. [21]

Products

As of July 2017 the following self-balancing scooters are available from Segway (For other Segway products see Segway Inc.):

Professional
Consumer

Technology

The dynamics of the Segway PT are similar to a classic control problem, the inverted pendulum. It uses brushless DC electric motors in each wheel powered by lithium-ion batteries with balance achieved using tilt sensors, and gyroscopic sensors developed by BAE Systems' Advanced Technology Centre. [27] The wheels are driven forward or backward as needed to return its pitch to upright.

Usage

See also: Personal transporter#International regulation
Two tourists on a Segway tour in Florence, Italy FlorenceSegwayTour.jpg
Two tourists on a Segway tour in Florence, Italy

In 2011 the Segway i2 was being marketed to the emergency medical services community. [28] The special police forces trained to protect the public during the 2008 Summer Olympics used the Segway for mobility. [29]

The Segway miniPro is also available to be used as the mobility section of a robot. [30]

Disability Rights Advocates for Technology [31] promoted the use of the Segway PT on sidewalks as an Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) issue. Segway Inc. cannot however market these devices in the US as medical devices (as per agreement with Johnson & Johnson with regard to the iBOT, a self-balancing wheelchair) [32] and they have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a medical device.[ citation needed ]

The maximum speed of the Segway PT is 12.5 miles per hour (20.1 km/h). The product is capable of covering 24 mi (39 km) on a fully charged lithium-ion battery, depending on terrain, riding style, and the condition of the batteries. [33] The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission does not have Segway-specific recommendations but does say that bicycle helmets are adequate for "low-speed, motor-assisted" scooters. [34]

See also

Related Research Articles

Electric unicycle

An electric unicycle is a self-balancing personal transporter with a single wheel. The rider controls the speed by leaning forwards or backwards, and steers by twisting the unit using their feet. The self-balancing mechanism uses gyroscopes, accelerometers in a similar way to that used by the Segway PT.

Gyrocar

A gyrocar is a two-wheeled automobile. The difference between a bicycle or motorcycle and a gyrocar is that in a bike, dynamic balance is provided by the rider, and in some cases by the geometry and mass distribution of the bike itself, and the gyroscopic effects from the wheels. Steering a motorcycle is done by precessing the front wheel. In a gyrocar, balance was provided by one or more gyroscopes, and in one example, connected to two pendulums by a rack and pinion.

Lithium battery

Lithium batteries are primary batteries that have lithium as an anode. These types of batteries are also referred to as lithium-metal batteries.

Timeline of United States inventions (after 1991)

A timeline of United States inventions encompasses the ingenuity and innovative advancements of the United States within a historical context, dating from the Contemporary era to the present day, which have been achieved by inventors who are either native-born or naturalized citizens of the United States. Patent protection secures a person's right to his or her first-to-invent claim of the original invention in question, highlighted in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution which gives the following enumerated power to the United States Congress:

Vectrix American manufacturer of electric vehicles

Vectrix was an electric vehicle company based in Middletown, Rhode Island, United States, with research and development facilities in New Bedford, Massachusetts and an assembly plant in Wrocław, Poland. Vectrix ceased all US operations as of December 31, 2013. The company filed for bankruptcy and final liquidation in March 2014.

Electric motorcycles and scooters

Electric motorcycles and scooters are plug-in electric vehicles with two or three wheels. The electricity is stored on board in a rechargeable battery, which drives one or more electric motors. Electric scooters have a step-through frame.

Dicycle vehicle with two wheels side by side

A dicycle is a vehicle with two parallel wheels, side by side, unlike single-track vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles, which have inline wheels. Originally used to refer to devices with large wheels and pedals, the term is now used in relation to powered self-balancing scooters with smaller wheels and no pedals such as the Segway PT and the self-balancing hoverboard.

Trevor Blackwell American programmer

Trevor Blackwell is a computer programmer, engineer and entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley.

Valence Technology

Valence Technology, Inc. develops and manufactures lithium iron phosphate cathode material as well as lithium ion battery modules and packs. The modules come in 12 V, 18 V, 24 V, and 36 V configurations. Valence's products are used in electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) such as cars, scooters, motorbikes, and commercial vehicles such as buses, delivery vans and trucks. Valence batteries are also used in wheelchairs, medical carts, robotics, marine, rail, as well as stationary applications such as remote power, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), energy storage systems, frequency regulation and switching gear.

Uno (dicycle) dicycle

The Uno is a novel self-balancing electric motorcycle using two wheels side by side. The Uno III adds third wheel that allows it to transform into a tricycle.

Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility

The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (PUMA) was an experimental electrically powered road vehicle created by Segway and adopted by General Motors as a concept vehicle representing the future of urban transportation. It operates on two wheels placed side by side, a layout that differs in placement from motorcycles which instead have their two wheels placed at the front and rear.

Honda U3-X

The Honda U3-X is an experimental self-balancing one-wheeled personal transporter shown in 2009.

Lit Motors Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that designed conceptual two-wheeled vehicles, including a fully electric, gyroscopically stabilized vehicle.

Robstep is a line of two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicles invented by Dongguan Robstep Robot Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, Dongguan, China. The name "Robstep" is a portmanteau of the words "robot" and "step", meaning robotic steps. The devices have been compared to Segways.

Honda UNI-CUB

The Honda UNI-CUB is a concept 2-axis self-balancing personal transporter for use in barrier-free indoor environments, and shown at the Osaka Motor Show 2013.

Self-balancing scooter battery-powered electric vehicle

A self-balancing scooter is a self-balancing personal transporter consisting of two motorized wheels connected to a pair of articulated pads on which the rider places their feet. The rider controls the speed by leaning forwards or backwards, and direction of travel by twisting the pads.

The following is a list of Xiaomi Smart Home Products. They are products released by third-party manufacturers who have partnered with Xiaomi.

References

  1. ↑ Kemper, Steve (2003). Code name Ginger : the story behind segway and Dean Kamen's quest to invent a new world. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. p. 27. ISBN   9781578516735 . Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  2. ↑ US patent 5,701,965 Human transporter
  3. ↑ "Segway Patent Information" (PDF). Segway Inc.
  4. ↑ US Patent 6,302,230 Personal mobility vehicles and methods
  5. ↑ Kemper, Steve (2003). Reinventing the Wheel: A Story of Genius, Innovation, and Grand Ambition. ISBN   1578516730.
  6. 1 2 "Reinventing the Wheel". Time . 2 December 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  7. ↑ Kemper, Steve (16 June 2003). "Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos meet "Ginger"". Harvard Business School Working Knowledge.
  8. ↑ "January 26, 2000". The Daily Show . 26 July 2000. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Machrone, Bill (3 December 2001). "Ginger Unveiled-It's a Scooter!". Extremetech.com. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  10. ↑ Tweney, Dylan. "Wired.com retrospective" . Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  11. ↑ "About Segway – Who We Are – Segway Milestones". Segway. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Segway, Official Site". Segway.com. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  13. ↑ "Segway LLC Recall to Upgrade Software on Segway Human Transporters". Cpsc.gov. 26 September 2003. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  14. ↑ "Segway i2". Segway.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  15. ↑ "Enhanced range, courtesy of lithium-ion". Archived from the original on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  16. ↑ "Segway PT Previous Model". Segway Inc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  17. ↑ The versatile Segway PT i180 Archived 12 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine .
  18. ↑ "Segway Launches New SE Personal Transporters (PTs) And SegSolution Accessory Packages". reuters.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.[ dead link ]
  19. ↑ Catherine Shu (15 April 2015). "Beijing-based Ninebot Acquires Segway, Raises $80M From Xiaomi And Sequoia". TechCrunch.
  20. ↑ "Why This Chinese Startup Just Bought a Company Americans Love to Ridicule". Time. April 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Segway launches $1,000 self-balancing scooter you can control like a drone from your phone". Venture Beat. 1 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "Segway I2 SE". Segway Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  23. ↑ "Segway x2 SE". Segway Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  24. ↑ "Meet Loomo". Segway Robotics. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  25. ↑ "Ninebot by Segway E+". Segway Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  26. ↑ "Segway miniPro". Segway Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "Segway - About Us - Press Releases - BAE SYSTEMS and Segway LLC Announce Partnership to Market Segway Human Transporter in the UK - 22 Jul 2002". segway-madrid.com.
  28. ↑ "EMS LifeLine". StreetSmart Segway. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  29. ↑ "Wheel scary: Chinese anti-terror police practise killing drills on scooters | Mail Online". Mailonsunday.co.uk. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  30. ↑ "Robot Segway Rovers Train Special Forces For Urban Warfare". Inventorspot.com. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  31. ↑ "Disability Rights Advocates for Technology". Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  32. ↑ Higginbotham, Adam (27 October 2008). "Dean Kamen: part man, part machine". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  33. ↑ "i2 SE Personal Transporter". Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "CPSC Guide:Which Helmet for Which Activity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.

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