Advance Small 2 Seater Electric Vehicle

This small advance vehicle under experiment by Seqway and GM is amazing innovation. What fascinates me is the balance mechanism. To balance four wheels is no problem but two wheels, side by side?

Take a look at the specification below. This vehicle uses highly sophisticated components comprising electronic and mechanical.


Segway Specs
These specifications are for the standard HT i180 model. Segway also offers four additional models: the HT i180 Police, the Cross-Terrain Transporter (XT), the Golf Transporter (GT) and the p133, a small, lightweight model.
• Top speed: 12.5 miles per hour (20 kph).
• Weight: 83 lbs (38 kg)
• Width: The Segway's footprint (how much space it covers on the ground) is 19 by 25 inches (48 by 63.5 cm).
• Weight capacity: 260 pound (118 kg) rider and cargo.
• Range: About 17 miles (28 km) on even ground, with a single charge on a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, and 8-12 miles with a single charge on a NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery.
• Driver interface: The Segway has a small LCD screen that tells the driver how much battery power is left and how well the vehicle is functioning.
• Motors: Each of the Segway's wheels is driven by a 2-horsepower electric motor that produce no emissions.
• Transmission: The two-stage transmission, built by Segway and Axicon Technologies, has a compact 24:1 gear ratio. It uses a helical gear assembly that significantly reduces noise.
• Computer: The Segway's brain is made up of two circuit boards, housed in the vehicle's chassis. The circuit boards, which boast a total of 10 microprocessors, normally work together, but each can function independently in the event of a computer problem.
• Power: The Segway is powered by two rechargeable batteries. Segways come with eitherlithium-ion (Li-ion) or nickel metal hydride (NIMH) batteries.
• Sensors: The Segway uses five gyroscopes and a collection of other tilt sensors to keep itself upright. Only three gyroscopes are needed -- the extra sensors are included as a safety precaution. The Segway has an additional weight sensor built into its platform to tell the computer when a rider has stepped on.
• Brakes: The Segway doesn't have a braking system. To stop, the rider stands upright without leaning forward or backward, and the vehicle maintains its position.
• Turning radius: Since it only has two wheels, the Segway can rotate around a single axis (the wheels turn in opposite directions). This gives the Segway a turning radius of zero.
• Wheels: The Segway wheel consists of a forged steel wheel hub with a glass-reinforced thermoplastic rim.
• Security: The Segway uses an electronic key system. The key, which looks something like a car lighter, stores a 128-bit encrypted digital code.
• Chassis: The Segway's sensitive electronic equipment is housed in a sturdy die-cast aluminum chassis.
• Control shaft: The aluminum shaft that holds up the Segway's handlebars can be adjusted to different heights.

Info Extract from: How Segways Work