On December 3, 2001, Dean Kamen unveiled his self-balancing, 'human transporter,' the Segway

[IcyPeas]

These never really caught on did they?

Link to tweet

[eShirl]

1. this is the latest version I want if I win the lottery

https://www.segway.com/loomo/

A self-balancing robot you can step onto & ride around like a "hovercraft"

(disclaimer: I don't play the lottery, it's just an expression)

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Talk to MicroProcessor Design, in Burlington, VT

They built the electronics / 8 dimensional MP interface to make Dean Kaman's platform work.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. One of the coolest guys I have ever met. We had a sales person that had Dean's ear.

We quoted some power supplies, but, no luck. Still, the dude is pretty amazing....and he can model integrated metals, plastics, and electonics into a functional model. In his shop. Brilliant dude.

[brush]

4. Nice, fun. But IMO transportation for one with no storage...

or relaxing seating space will always a nice and fun novelty.

[RockRaven]

5. Their lack of catching on is probably due to branching/diverging variations...

Everything gets smaller and smarter and smoother and other brands take over... As much as we tap out stuff qwerty style on our phones these days, few of us use BlackBerrys anymore...

Two wheels horizontally aligned -- those "hoverboards" (which infamously caught fire) and such

Two wheels vertically aligned -- various electric scooters

One wheel in line with user's body -- various electric unicycles like Inmotion, Solowheel, etc.

One wheel perpendicular to user's body -- various single wheel skateboard like Onewheel, etc.



Just a couple days ago I spotted a person using one of those electric unicycles on a nominally 35 mph surface street during commute time (they were only doing 15-20, but in the middle of the lane with cars ahead and behind).

[Demovictory9]

6. as recently as 6 years ago, I'd see a guy riding one home from work

[hlthe2b]

7. Far more than I thought they would, seeing some police and mall security guards on them..