Omni Segway

[ERock(NJ)]

Has anyone thought of making an omni segway? I was just thinking it would be cool. You would use ball wheels and more motors and it wouldnt work that well but it would be cool.

[ngreen]

Those things turn so slick it would seem useless other than just to entertain. How would sideways controls work. Forward and back work with how you are balanced on it. Would it just be a button. Sliding down the sidewalk sideways. I'm sure some cities have already banned that. I like the idea it would be neat.

[ERock(NJ)]

u make it so u can lean sideways or something

[Yan Wang]

So basically, what you're asking for is to have all the omni-rollers (and there'd have to be plenty to provide a smooth ride) be powered [to prevent sliding]? That'd be very interesting in terms of how they are controlled within the wheel. Thinking about space constraints, that'd be a difficult task for any engineer. Nonetheless, I agree that it'd be one cool vehicle... and probably one very expensive vehicle.

[ngreen]

I like it. I want one now.

If you could make a self balance dual ball drive that moved both with how you balanced both forward and backwards and side to side that would be awesome.

Do that and then make it climb a series of stairs.

I think that would impress Dean.

[Gadget470]

I think it would do more than just impress Dean.

The builder would likely end up very rich with a name well recognized in the scientific community.

As for the omnidirecectional machine using balls instead of just wheels.. The Technokat's did it
Some of you may remember, at the Midwest (correct if wrong) the above robot was loaned to team 909, as 909's robot was not completed (again, correct if wrong). During a match, a team with a wedge-like frame lifted 909 about 4 inches, and one of the balls fell out.

Note on the thread "Patent Pending".. the Technokat's have something with a patent on the way dealing with mobility via a ball-type device. So if you plan on building an Ball Drive Segway, you may run into some legal troubles.

Could it ever happen? Anything's possible.
Will it ever happen? I think, probably not. Although we can improve technology, we can't change physics or ignorance to the new technology. People started a "Sue-It.com" (It being Ginger being Segway) to figure out how to sue Dean for his invention before it even hit the markets.

Face the facts, most people are out to get every penny they can. Make something that they can make money off of, and they will. By any means necessary.

[sanddrag]

How about only one single ball for a segway. Now that would be cool.

[Gadget470]

or how about one with a jet pack and glows bright pink or blue depending on the gender of the person.. </sarcasm>

My last post covers the 'one ball' also.

[ERock(NJ)]

Im going to make drawings in study hall of how I would make an omni-segway. Ill try to post them later.

[Adam Y.]

How about only one single ball for a segway. Now that would be cool

I saw a concept drawing for something like that. Don't know if they ever made that.

[KenWittlief]

Side note: there is no such thing as a 'pending patent' - putting those words on a product means nothing.

The patent office either issues you a patent, or they dont - the fact that you applied or a patent means (statistically) you have about a 10% chance of getting one that will hold up under a court challenge.