Gearfuse

Legs just aren’t what they used to be. Human limbs used to be the driving force behind America’s booming industry, once ushering in a new age of wealth. These days, machines are slowly taking our place on the assembly line. From a businessman’s stand point, it just makes sense. Why pay four employees for a job that a single robot could do for free?

The Chariot wearable transporter, created for both amputees and lazy mothers alike, allows humans to integrate the speed of an engine and the force of robotic steel onto thier fragile human bodies, without the need for any life-altering surgery. Traveling at a max. speed of 12-miles per hour, or about double to triple the speed of your usual gait, the Chariot might soon be in mass production in tandem with the auto-industry. Check out the rad height boost you get too, after the jumpenstein.

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Take a near-bankrupt automobile manufacturer and a company that makes personal transportation vehicles used mostly by colleges and you’d think you’d have a disaster on your hands, correct? Apparently, such is not the opinion of General Motors and Segway. The two companies are teaming up to create the PUMA, or Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project. The vehicle, shown above, will feature a 35 MPH top speed and will get a measly 35 mile charge on its lithium battery pack.

OK, I get it. Cool idea. Rad vehicle. But 35 miles on one charge? Sounds pointless unless I can recharge it in 15 minutes at any electrical outlet, don’t you agree? Regardless, if this doesn’t bankrupt GM, I don’t know what will.

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Karl Lagerfeld wants you to know that even though he’s old and the head of Chanel, he can still crank out innovative, wallet-busting products that are completely unnecessary. Take this Chanel Segway, for instance. It comes with some ridiculously expensive Chanel bag, logos emblazoned all over the vehicle (including the rims) and has extra big tires for when you’re stuck in the sand in Laos whilst on a photo shoot.

No word on price but if you have to ask…

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Think you can ride a Segway? Sure, it might look easy – until you fall. For those not skilled in the ways of a normal-sized Segway, perhaps a mini Segway would be more to your liking. This DIY project found on the Arduino.cc forums was posted by user Arduino.poet whose created this mini-Segway which has no practical purpose but does show his passion for hardware and the Arduino. Why else would he be the self-proclaimed Arduino poet?

Using some LEGO pieces and an Ardunio, this Segway is capable of self-balanced movement at a speed that could be deemed too fast. Just kidding, this thing is slow as molasses. Arduino.poet also uploaded his library to Sourceforge for all to use and is willing to answer any questions anyone has on the project over at the Arduino.cc forums.  My question: where’s the cup holder?

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This one is blowing my mind, so see if you can follow along. Toyota today announced a “partner robot” that is supposed to help carry you around. Also known as a PTA (Personal Transportation Assistant), you could think of it as a Segway with AI. It’s called the Winglet and it will come in three different models: The “L”, “M” and “S”. Why the weird naming system? I’m glad you asked:

Toyota’s created three models, the “L”, “M” and “S”, each having different handling features that allow consumers to select a model appropriate to their needs—from “practical” to “hands-free sporty”. If all this sounds familiar to you, it should.

Again, like I said. A “Super Segway” if you will. Expect to see them in Japan first, who knows when in America. By 2010 they should be commonplace in the Land of the Rising sun. After the jump, pictures of all three models.
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Love it or hate it, you gotta admit the Segway intrigues you. If you’ve always wanted to try one out, now’s your chance. At HOPE, they’ll have Segway courses set up so you can race your friend. We watched as several people wiped out in a row and boy was it a gas. Follies!

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After seeing some totally unsatisfactory uses of the Segway, I have built up a bad taste for the user base of the personal transport device (with the exception of this dude.) It’s time that a new device took the Segway from the top rungs of popularity and laziness.

This newly designed transportation device by Sarah Park mashes together the personal transport of the Segway with a “skiing” like steering mechanism. The size of the new device is about the same as a baby stroller. If you’ve ever pushed a baby stroller, you know how it’s usually not a problem even if you’re tall, so the design factor works. The dual handlebars of this new device makes the navigation similar to both pushing a stroller and skiing down a slope. (more…)

If customizing your Segway’s frame wasn’t hardcore enough for you, I’ve got a whole new idea for all of you Seg-fans (but not so much her.)

This ultra-custom Segway adds two feet of wheels on either side of the device, effectively creating what I am calling, the “Monster Truck Of Segways”. — Andrew Dobrow

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The Segway has been used in many ways, even as a mobile baby carriage pusher (or as I like to call it, the lazy bitch mobile), but we’ve yet to see some real custom Segway rides.

SegwayJunkyard has put together some impressive custom Segway devices, including the Night Rider (pictured left) and a special Segway made for LG (pictured right). We think Hubo the robot might want his own custom ride after being the first robot to successfully ride a Segway. How about it? — Andrew Dobrow

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Spotted in Seattle, this ingenious woman pushes her baby stroller while cruising around on her Segway. Talk about laziness. And by the looks of her, she could afford to work some of that junk in her trunk off.

That can’t be safe for the kid either. One foul curve on a hill, and that baby goes squish. She wins the lazy bitch of the year award. — Andrew Dobrow

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