When engineers developed the gyroscopes, tilt sensors and high-speed microprocessors to allow the Segway to stay upright they had not considered the balancing act involved in getting the scooter approved from the Department for Transport, but luckily such legal hurdles have not stopped other designers from using the same technology to build ever-more-ambitious variations on the theme.
The Uno III is a full-sized electric scooter that can transform itself into a powered, self-balancing unicycle small enough to fit in a lift or store inside a house.
Unicycle / motorcycle hybrid
Benjamin Gulak was an engineering postgraduate when he secured over £850,000 from the American version of Dragon’s Den for a twenty per cent stake in his company CBG Motors and its development of the Uno; a unicycle that at the push of a button transforms itself into a motorcycle.
Since then the design has been refined and is now close to production. The current model is limited to a 30mph top speed.
Safe storage
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Without riding the Uno it’s hard to know how it handles, but the idea of folding an electric commuter bike in half for safe storage inside a flat or office is very interesting.”
The makers of the Uno 3 have yet to start production, but are accepting refundable deposits of $250.
Successors to Segway
| Electric vehicle concepts | based on Segway self-balancing technology |
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| Concept Centaur – a four-wheeled Segway built capable of off-road riding.
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| The Honda U3-X – an electric self-balancing unicycle that is a contender for the title of world’s smallest powered vehicle.
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| Segway Mantix – a futuristic and stylish interpretation of Segway’s self-balancing technology.
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| Segway has worked with General Motors to build a two-seater Segway , which itself has inspired a pod-like electric vehicle that is able to drive itself by communicating with other vehicles on the road |  |
Cycle insurance
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old cover for theft and accidental damage (race events included), third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, they will even come out and recover you and your bike.
Atul Kharsaani
I”v more interested in your tec.