Quote:
Originally Posted by gbrandwood
Just as a minor update to this thread. I have since sold the Airwheel. Whilst I did enjoy riding it and did manage to get back on it after my accident, I fell out of love with it as a serious transportation option, for me at least.
|
Thanks for the accounts, which I just read, of your Airwheel experience. Glad you survived it reasonably intact.
Reflecting on your experience and my own perceptions of the device when I saw the initial videos of it in operation, I really couldn't see the validity of its design, based mainly on the fact that it had only one wheel.
Sure, they somehow made it "work" and showed skilled operators on it who were rather convincing. But what I DIDN'T see were any "panic stops" or any slow speed maneuvers which would be rather essential if one were operating it in crowds or busy concourses.
But then I could see why we didn't see any such operations, because such aren't really possible on that thing.
I'm also not surprised to NOT see any Ryno devices around for similar reasons.
Dean Kamen stuck his neck out with the design of the Segway PT, perhaps giving the general public too much credit in expecting mass adoption in large numbers. Even though its design is much more sound and viable, it also carries with it a rather high requirement that the operator be substantially agile, both mentally and physically, and be able to be far more alert and observant than the average Joe so as to avoid gliding mishaps.
I've called gliding "low level flight" on a number of occasions. I think the comparison is apt, because airplane pilots are also held to much higher than average levels of alertness, training, preparedness, clear thinking, quick reactions, calmness under pressure and/or dangerous condition, etc.
Airplanes cost a lot, mainly because they have be be safety certified and reliable. Same goes for the Segway PT.
Operators of both, though, enjoy the uncommon pleasures of flight.