DARPA patent application

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Billfred

True, but I don't think the Segway will self-balance while flying through the air with the greatest of ease.
(Can someone with access to one verify that? )

I wouldn't think the Segway would even need to go into any balance modes.. hard as that may sound, since on a static surface it's always in balance mode.

But, Billfred does pose a great question. How do gyro's act in environments when they are being forced against the gravity that helps them balance?

I think I wanna buy a Segway just to throw myself in the air to see what would happen...

Or..

Has anyone ever tried throwing themselves out of an airplane while on a Segway to see it's reaction to conditions like that?
(Ooh ooh.. I'll volunteer. A position as a test "Pilot" for Segway LLC?? What can be cooler than that?)

Idk. I just see this invention leading to something way more than tossing people on roofs. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't see a practical use for this in the scope of the patent and what it claims.. Yet.
Yes, I see it as a working device, but why??

Sometimes we as engineers claim to invent something that of course can make something possible, but we also have to step back and ask our selves why we would want to make that "something" possible.

In all of Dean's/DEKA/Segway's other patents, they seemed to (ironically) follow the quote from the pixar movie Robots; "See a need, fill a need."
With the Ibot, it was the need for handicapped people to transverse obstacles, and as a side effect raise themselves to eye level of others.
With the Dialysis pump, and heart stent, it was the need to help people dealing with blood transfusions, and other medical problems.

Is there really a need to launch people on top of roofs quickly???

As I see it now, I don't believe there is, but like I said before, there has got to be a secret part 2 of this invention for this to make sense..

I'm just not seeing the big picture yet.

Dave, you said there was video of this device in use??
Can you point us to some links or some references???

Originally Posted by Richard

What a great idea for 2007 FRC ! Call the new game "Just Shoot Me!" (or something similar -- I guess that name is taken by the TV sitcom.)

Are we back on the 2006 hint again?? That was the "shovel's show" from the clue from this past year's game.

The Shovel ,or spade, or David Spade was an actor on "Just Shoot Me". Have we forgotten the clues meaning already??