Segway Tipping Over
 

http://m3mm.com/SegwayCrash.wmv

Yes, they can tip over. Segway zealots will have a field day with this one. Their machine isn't so infallible after all.

Windows Media Player 9 required for the codecs.


If anyone thinks this is some obscure thing that will never happen, think again. Anything can happen. Cars were thought to be the best thing ever, until the first fatality.

I could easily see something like this happening to a panicky rider when a little child (or any other obstruction) runs in front of their path. They'll immediately reverse, but then their natural reflex will be to stabilize themselves since they were caught off-guard. Hence, this.

And, no, I'm not being mean. I'm being realistic. I think the Segway is a great invention, but everything has its limits.

I've seen all sorts of pics of crashes, and let me tell you, most is driver error. I'm not saying the Seg is unvincibale, it's just that a computer can't compensate for user error, if it did, then it would be HAL.

When a device melds human and autonomous control systems so closely like this one does, the difference between a design flaw and user error becomes indistinguishable. It's just like voice recognition systems, is it the users fault they didn't speak the word properly or the devices fault that it didn't recognize the user?

The purpose of the device is established to defy gravity to allow motion. Is it the devices fault for operating incorrectly? Or is it the user's fault they fell down?


These are very important questions. When a device fails and allows for human injury, it opens up a door for lawsuits. Design imperfections are one common area lawsuits happen these days. I'm not saying Segway could, or will, be sued, or that there's anything wrong with it, but anything can happen. Even if Segway says they don't stand behind any previous claims, never underestimate the ingenuity of an idiot or the human will for free money. I'm sure somewhere along the line, someone will try...


Really? I didn't know you could tell so much from a picture. You sound sure of yourself. You'll have to teach me how to do that one. You should become a forensic detective.

Bicycles also tip over and crash with people being injured. The Segway is at a disadvantage because it is based solely on electronics and is not mechanical. People (some) have the tendency to not trust electronic innovations.

Not a picture, first hand accounts from web sites and video. LOTS of times Segs tip over due to the user not switching modes from assist mode to balance mode, or other things like large curbs.

Now to play devil's advocate here... let me throw a bit more fuel on the fire.

The video is actually at a training session for a company that rents segways. The instructor was trying to teach him how to do a quick "safety stop" (in case something were to run in the way) and the device apparently shut down. He had no intention of doing it and he said he absolutely loves the segway. Sounds like device failure to me.

But I've seen others. One had the users run into another Seg and for the user to jump off. Another had someone not turn on the balance mode and fall. Do a search at www.segwaychat.com for accadents.

Maybe that is so, but in this case, it seems to be like a mechanical failure...

I believe in a lawsuit some years back judges ruled that automobile manufacturers cannot be held liable for any accidents. Perhaps such immunity will be extended to the Segway. Maybe not. Only a lawsuit will tell.

As for bicycles, the user has virtually total control over the contraption (no electrical subsystems), so any accident is legally the rider's fault.

Does anyone have a new source for the video?

http://www.bookofseg.com/videos/SegwayCrash.wmv

I'll give my big speach in a bit guys...

As I've said before, the machine can't cover human stupidity. Look at him and not tell me that what he was doing was considered VERY dangerous. Segway tells you right up front that if tractions is lost the Seg will fall. And look what happened to him. He pushed it to it's limits and he fell. It's like SUV tip over, when driven correctly, it works. When driven incorrectly it will fail.

This wasn't normal operation for a Segway. To go full throttle, then for him to lean back as far as he can go then lean forward as much as he can is going to cause problems. He wasn't using it to be productive (or for testing) but he had a mentality to cause an accident.

sometimes you may need to do an emergency stop, which was like what he was attempting to simulate. same things happen in an SUV. they can sometimes flip over while trying to avoid another accident.



btw, use spell check josephm. i have trouble figuring what you are trying to say sometimes

I have, I always get cought up in the action and forget to spell check...

Also, what he did wasn't a proper emergency stop. A proper stop is when the Seg is pulled back at any speed, and then you return to the straight-up position. He didn't' do this. He pulled back and then went forward again. The Segway was going too fast in reverse and did a safety stop (this is done to prevent the Segway from running away or causing more harm when a user falls off).

As I watch the video, I can hear a cracking noise right beafore he hits the ground..... I dont think this is the machine is making contact with the ground. Could it have been the gears inside or something along that line.

The wheels did not slip on the ground.

Look 32seconds into the video and you will see what I mean about the clicking noise.


Sorry for any gramatical or spelling mistakes.... its late

BTW- What company is this that is renting the segways?

Crack/Click noise
 

The operator has learned hopefuily the limitations of angle permissible by the balance system ...and lucky for us, we can learn this also. He froze! The fact that he did not give the machine enough time to go backward after his stop was the reason his 2nd panic stop dumped him. When the Segway shut down at the extreme angle and obviously out of control condition it probably took the slop out of the gears. The harsh click sound is similar to when you take a car transmission out of gear under load without the clutch. Keep in mind that there was no gear failure here...that is evident because both wheels gave up at the same time, not likely if we are talking about a broken gear.

He should have felt his center of gravity transfer away from the Segway also. As you look at the Segway swinging away from him
can you imagine how that would reduce his weight on the pads of the Segway? When he panic stopped he should have bent his knees and shoved the bars forward a bit. Instead his weight was left roughly in the same place but because he overcorrected he was not a rider on the machine anymore.

Re: Segway Tipping Over
 

I think the same "effect" caused me to land on my head today. After an emergency stop with a steep lean back, the Segway attempted to right itself and fell all the way forward. My fault for trying to stop too quickly, and I can't wait to ride again, but next time with a helmet.

By the way, the links to the video didn't work, does anyone have a current link?

Re: Segway Tipping Over
 

Paul Copioli has had some experience with this one - he managed to fall off his Segway while introducing teams at IRI. :)