ZEUS Nanocar

[Klerkan]

Here's a different mod of segway!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX8daXc7CxY

[cmonkey]

It's be neat if the mod was available a kit.

The site claims all the usual stuff that we like.
Less congestion, energy, pollution, etc....

they forgot one thing....

less visibility;) My gosh, you sit so low on that, I'd be afraid to get run over by wheelchairs!:eek:

Neat Idea, but you'd have to be extra careful crossing a street. You'd definitely need to add a visibility flag to it.

[Desert_Seg]

I got an e-mail from them tonight pointing to the same link. I'm interested even if only to test it. However, as cmonkey mentions, this thing sits so low you are a hazard to both traffic and yourself!

Steven

[hellphish]

Orange flag?

[PeteInLongBeach]

I'm curious how weight transfer is done to control starting/stopping.

One advantage: no more face plants!

[hellphish]

you can sit down like that on a gen 1 machine pretty easily. It is pretty simple to control but when you engage the speed limiter it can get a little freaky.

[SEGsby]

Clever mod to an i2.

This is starting to get closer to JohnM's "Foo-Mobile"...

SEGsby

[segsurfer]

Interesting mod, I agree with cmonkey but I think it has great potential as a mobility device.

[macgeek]

the segway handlebar as a 'foot rest' as well as the accessory bar?

they had to hack the tilt sensor, and there showing it off at Inc's HQ?
Lots of segs in the backround

Jonathan

[hellphish]

Crap, you are right! Look how he controls the throttle with the hand grip. They must have put the BSA on a gimbal and attached it to that lever. That is so cool.

[bentbiker]

I'm curious how weight transfer is done to control starting/stopping.

they had to hack the tilt sensor . . .
My take is that the seat just sits above the normal platform and the handle merely slides the seat forward and back relative to the center of the platform. Right and left lean to the stick turns the regular Pivot Base Assembly. Thus, no need to get inside the unit; it could be made into a pretty simple kit.

[Dennis Tracey]

Riding the streets of Utah on this would qualify one as insane. One each monster truck and one each of these makes a tragedy a certainty.

It also ruins one of the advantages of the Segway for mobility assistance. You are back to nose to crotch perspective. Won't be trying to mod mine....

[GadgetmanKen]

Ah, very ingenious. I like it. A very good mod I must say. I bet the converted i2 control shaft is attached to the gear housing. If you notice in the video when he first takes off, and throws the lever forward, his seat also slides forward. This is how he distributes the weight to move forward. I would think that the seat like they are using would be uncomfortable after awhile.

This might be a good answer to a wheel chair type transporter for the disabled, and maybe Disneys answer, too. Don't know.

I do think its doable, and could be available in a kit, where the framework that connects to the gear housing fits on the original i2 control shaft. All that would be needed is that frame work and the seat, I think.

Now, what I think would even be better than what they have here, is to make it a convertable. Not a rag top. But convertable, whereby you could somehow raise the handlebar assembly upward and raise the seat with it on the fulcrum and make it also seated but standing up. It doesn't show how easy it is to sit down on it, tho. That may be a problem.

On a side note, I found a little humor in it. It almost looks like he's handleing himself. I think the joystick should be higher up and less between the legs. :)

[segsurfer]

Interesting idea, but I don't see why anyone would like to take something as innovative as a segway and completely change orientation. I understand the point of a seat as I am handicapped and I use one on my own segway, but to take a segway and basically turn it into a very expensive huffy green machine seems like a step backwards.

[quade]

. . . but to take a segway and basically turn it into a very expensive huffy green machine seems like a step backwards.

To me, that statement is a bit like when the boys in spandex ride by and say "you're cheating".

I always tell them I'm not cheating because I'm not playing the same game they are.

I think this mod shows an awesome amount of creativity in looking at something most people see ONE way and using it in a totally different way. My guess is that most people that think you're a geek a on a Segway would think this very same mod is one of the coolest things they've ever seen.

That said . . . THIS is not the answer to Segways at Disney parks either. I think people would be tripping over it quite a bit since it sits so low and long.

Another issue I see with the mod is that it's going to have a few issues using ramps due to front ground clearance issues.

It IS however an awesome mod with a couple of interesting applications including a Foo-mobile as a parade vehicle.

[Desert_Seg]

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/thumb_Segway_Nanocar_1.jpg (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/normal_Segway_Nanocar_1.jpg)

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/thumb_Segway_Nanocar_2.jpg (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/normal_Segway_Nanocar_2.jpg)

It does appear the seat slides forward and back and that the central shaft is the new steering mechanism.

I just don't see the value of this mod BUT it does show the potential mods that are out there.

Steven

[quade]

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/thumb_Segway_Nanocar_1.jpg (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13397/normal_Segway_Nanocar_1.jpg)

So, it's going to probably be ok on 1:12 (inch per foot) standard ramps, but I seriously doubt it's going to be able to go UP something like Fargo street forward.

[CovRob]

In the 1980's a UK inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair, lost a lot of money on this project:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9/CovRob/Segway/c5.jpg
Full information on an enthusiast's site here: http://www.sinclairc5.com/

Electrically powered but with the option of pedal assistance. It was fully road legal in the UK...but sank like a lead balloon. Almost the same sort of speed and range as the Segway, but with three wheels. The seating position was almost exactly the same as the nanocar.

[SegwayDan]

Yeah, it's creative, yeah, it's cool. But it's kinda silly, too. You're sitting way too low for seeing and being seen, and your legs become obstructions, both to your own maneuverability and to others around you. The extra pieces add weight, and the missing fenders will be noticed soon enough by the rider.

I don't see any springs, either. SITTING on that base for any length of time over the normal variety of sidewalk and road surfaces is going to jar the whole hip and spinal structure rather uncomfortably.

And what about panic stops? Pushing on that single stick between your legs FORWARD to slide your seat BACK I'd think would be awkward and inefficient.

Nah. Back to the drawing board, I'd say.

I'd be interested to learn just what inspired the creator of this mutation of concept? Leg trouble? Back trouble? Can't stand for extended periods? It is indeed creative, but the possibility that one such arbitrary would spawn this entire collection of additional arbitraries is an interesting phenomenon.

[SegwayDan]

I think you're right. The demo video looks convincing. But out in the real world, the loss of leverage of your whole body for acceleration control, and for leaning into turns will prove to be quite unpleasant.

[CovRob]

Just another thought ...in adopting a more recumbent postion the footprint of the nanocar extends significantly. Self-balancing technology is surely superfluous; overcomplicating a situation that a third wheel would more efficiently and economically resolve.

[seglander]

Great innovation but I think I'd prefer the Centaur, similar footprint, better visibility, just as manouevrable on rear wheels and with a higher top speed when on four.

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:3jh9mk8TiLBlAM:http://www.evworld.com/images/tweel_centaur.jpg

[pam]

I really think this belongs in science and technology, guys, so it's going to a new home :).
Pam

[Desert_Seg]

Hmmm, your call but since it is a mod to a Segway it really does belong in General Discussion...

Now Science or Technology on this thing!

Steven

[SegwayDan]

I agree with Steven that this thread should stay in General, and Rob makes very good additional points.

[polo_pro]

I agree with Desert_Seg...back to Gen Discussion, but only because the unit is a modded segway.

ps - Feel free to delete my reply here if it gets moved back. I would suspect the other posters who replied with similar views would agree to removing their reply to "clean up" the thread if its moved back.

[SEGsby]

Ah, the glorious C5. Offspring of a kid's peddle car and a TRON Lightcycle...

Today, this would probably be called a sub-compact NEV.

SEGsby

In the 1980's a UK inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair, lost a lot of money on this project:

[GadgetmanKen]

I just also wanted to comment on the You Tube video.
They mention about using a four thousand pound car to bring home a pound of milk. Just for clearity, Who buys milk by the pound? I would guess they mean gallon, and a gallon of milk is a bit over 8 pounds or more. Just wanted to clarify that. Maybe they could edit that?

[hellphish]

It is a segway mod and clearly belongs in General.

[quade]

It is a segway mod and clearly belongs in General.

Me, just being a general member of the web site, I don't question the repositioning of posts by moderators.

Moderators have a difficult enough job as it is without having to try to second guess everyone's reaction to how they do it.

[hellphish]

Not questioning anybody, just agreeing with the truth as I see it.

[CBRC]

Hello to all !

Thanks for your input, if you have any question about the ZEUS let us know. We agree that the CG is low but that is the point, I think we will repackage the VIDEO on you tube and specify it's for recreationnal use or dedicated zone because you are right you would be riding at eye level with bumpers...

We are interested in making a second prototype, closer to a production unit (more fit and finish etc) if you are interested to participate, let us know!

The CBRC team

PS: Segway already know about this, in fact we buy a unit from them each time we make a prototype or a production unit.

[GadgetmanKen]

CBRC welcome to SegwayChat. Quite an interesting mod. How many have you sold? What was the main purpose for designing it this way, other than the wow factor? Is it difficult to get on it seated that way and is it (the seat) uncomfortable after a while?

Technically if you wanted to save some money you could buy the white Segway i2's from Sam's Club online. Segway discontinued the white i2's and sold their surplus stock to Sams's Club to be liquidated. You could however do them in black as well, I suppose.

What differences are you wanting to include in your second prototype?

Oh, sorry for the humor I saw in the video, it came from the dark side. :)

[quade]

Thanks for your input, if you have any question about the ZEUS let us know.

Awesome way of looking at something and seeing something slightly different than the norm. Love the creativity in this and can't wait to see what improvements you make.

Would also love to see a Segway after market retro-fit kit and one that would hopefully allow a swap from one style to the other and back again with just a few minutes of wrenching.

[GadgetmanKen]

I was thinking again (Dooh!) and thought that it would not be too difficult, to add springs under the seat for shock absorbsion for bumps, would it? Maybe some patios (foot/calf rests) under the ends of the handlebars just in case your feet slide off at a bump. Wouldn't want your feet or legs to get tangled up under the wheels, would you? Oh, by the way are the handlebars fully extended in the video?