i want one of these

[sin85]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6IPCFyC ... detailpage

[Burgerman]

Segways? Easily available, but not cheap.

[Maharishi]

If you have the wonga then a similar one is available here -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180934131364? ... 481wt_1160

The one in the video looks better but I haven't seen them for sale anywhere. There are a couple of other conversions but they're not readily available in the UK either as fa r as I know.

As per usual though it makes my blood boil that a fairly simple conversion costs as much as the original Segway itself.

[Burgerman]

Then instead of paying others to do this for you, do it yourself.

Its not very difficult, but takes some thinking and experimentation, or development work.

[Maharishi]

Well, it is very difficult if you're C4/5 tetra, in fact it's quite impossible to do it yourself. I could of course try and plan something though - nothing wrong with my brain just yet.

I had been mulling a few ideas in my head a couple of weeks back. From what I can tell it wouldn't be very difficult just to mount the frame of a lightweight wheelchair on top. That's really all they've done to the one on ebay from what I can see.

The bit that needs making is the stand to keep it stable while you're get on and off. It needn't be complicated but I would still have to get it made.

A Second hand segway is about 3 grand and with the other bits needed it would take up to 4 grand that's still a big outlay that I can't afford at the moment.

Until I get some other stuff sorted it's on the back burner.

[Burgerman]

I thought about using segway electronics years ago, but not their motor drivers / speed controllers. To balance my existing BM2 chairs on the rear wheels. I can do this now by hand, for a bit...

But the feedback system uses the motors own timing (brushless) to sense movement and position.

And I dont think segway motors have the power or build quality to last as all day every day powerchair motors, so shelved the plan. And segway batteries are too small.

So started playing with model heli solid state gyros, to control the tip angle. This was an easy experiment since I already drive my chairs via RC and a model plane reciever. This kind of worked,much to my surprise, but without ant positional or horizontal speed info it runs away and runs out of speed or torque to maintain balance. So you have to "help" it. It needs accelerometers, and wheel position data. Much like my new toy hovering camera platform. (Can you see where this is heading? )

Well heres an interesting thing... The Roboteq, can run scripts/software. And can already use pulse width data from a model heli gyro. And can also accept motor position sensor (shaft encoders) from the Groove motors. The only bit of the equasion missing is my ability to write the code... And the robotec also has the ability to start or stop the script via an external input on one of its many inputs.

So its a better faster segway, ready to rock, if you can write the code! Or rather my wheelchair could simply have its casters replaced by two short supports for when you "land" when you want to get out. As it is, it balances well at about 30 degrees. I could move the seat rearwards, and motors forwards and make that 10 degrees.

[rollingcowboy]

are the segway drive wheels locked from turning when the unit is at rest?
(kind of like our powerchairs are locked)

if they are locked - why not use a small wheel at the bottom of the 'stand' posts?

this might make a big difference when/if you should ever scrap or drag the stand when driving.
it might make the initial take off a little smoother?
a negative would be the small wheel would dig into a softer surface easier
I wonder - how do the stands work if the chair is on dirt or sand - are they manually controlled up and down?

I have never been around a segway to watch them work.

[stevelawiw]

I thought, wow those wheels look nice! Where can I get some?
http://www.segwayjunkyard.com/gen2_tire_new.htm $2000 for a pair of wheels? bloody madness