[generalbrando]

I was inspiried by hearing that some teams were making big bucks giving Segway rides to the public. For some amount (I heard $20) people were given the basic Segway training (a good length of riding). The operating cost: $1.00 of electricity and the time of a few people to run the event. Investment: $4500 in a Segway (although $4000 for the new p series would work as well).

My idea is simply for a bunch of teams to chip in and buy a Segway. Then send the Segway from team to team and each will have an amount of time with it to generate some travel and parts funds.

This would work out best if areas with high concentrations of teams worked together. Shipping 70 pounds around the country can be expensive - however if that's they way it was to go, it would barely cut into the money we could raise.

Eventually the money could be reinvested in more Segways if the demand for it was high enough. Otherwise, it could continually generate a large amount of money for teams (Segways last for many years and it will be a long time before everyone and their friends has one).

This idea needs some tweeking and I'm sure there are many great spins everyone can put on it - so get posting. If you want to talk about this more and actually start working on it (yes, I want to do it now, as in this month), then AIM me at BostonRobot.