Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil
My reasoning is simple; it takes 18.6 feet for a Segway to stop when moving at 12.5 MPH [1], or an average deceleration of 4.2 ft/s. Therefore, there is absolutely no way that the 250 pound mass will cause Jane to experience a slight push, or anything that one would consider casual contact. There will be a violent collision.
[1] http://www.humantransport.org/bicycl...way/Segway.htm |
Your reasoning is missing an important point. The reference you provide does not involve a collision, and over two thirds of the listed distance is reaction time (braking does not begin until four frames after the signal is given, and is complete two frames later). A Segway in forward motion is leaning forward, and will be tilted upright -- or even backwards --
immediately upon running into an obstacle. That stops it rather quickly, usually more quickly than any rider can manage.
To add to the body of anecdotal information, the two Segway/pedestrian collisions I have witnessed were no more traumatic than a typical two-person collision, and I have
never heard of someone being knocked to the ground after being hit by a Segway. The worst Segway incident I've seen was when someone fell off after intentionally running over an obstacle, and the results seemed similar to tripping over one's shoelaces. (I don't count the Bush video -- the thing was in "follow-me" mode.)