Lure of the Yike Bike

[Isidore]

Originally Posted by Bob.Kerns

Not irrelevant, just not important.

The height of the CG changes the time constants. A high CG will take longer to tip over, but will require more motion by the base to restore balance for a given angle of tip. In practice, these tend to cancel out.

It does make a difference, though. It also makes a difference how much of the weight is on the glider vs the unit, and how far spread out those masses are on each.

You're right to say 'not important ' rather than 'irrelevant'- it 's just a matter of changing the the software to deal with the changed rotational moment of inertia and c of g height. On the question of the weight of the i2, am I not right in thinking it is a lot heavier than an i180 with the same batteries? Why? Weight is the enemy of most engineering artefacts, especially ones that move, but even static ones like bridges and buildings.

[KSagal]

There are some pretty mechanical reasons for the i2 weighing more than its predecessor...

There are spacers on either side of the central platform, to make a wider standing position. There is the entire central console, with several more boards that communicate with the infokey, and to house the status LEDs.

I suspect that the wheels and fenders are not much different in weight, but the gear housings with the mounting flange are also likely to be heavier...

Perhaps others will know more about weights ...

[lilnyc]

Originally Posted by emrnyc

Now lets work on the mayor and the city concil....

Absolutely.

[Gihgehls]

I'm pretty sure the biggest weight addition was the center console. I can't remember off the top of my head if the LSF is heavier than the gen1 CS+handlebar.

[Isidore]

Originally Posted by Gihgehls

I'm pretty sure the biggest weight addition was the center console. I can't remember off the top of my head if the LSF is heavier than the gen1 CS+handlebar.

Possibly, but remember that the console only contains what was in the csb- the charger circuit, plus in addition the radio stuff which can't weigh a lot. I suppose it must be the leansteer and the steering mechanism in the console that add the weight?

[Gihgehls]

Originally Posted by Isidore

Possibly, but remember that the console only contains what was in the csb- the charger circuit, plus in addition the radio stuff which can't weigh a lot. I suppose it must be the leansteer and the steering mechanism in the console that add the weight?

Yes. I was only talking about the console's casing. The additional electronics from gen1 to gen2 are insignificant in weight.

[SegwayDan]

Originally Posted by KSagal

You are making my point about light as possible, and just strong enough and not more so...

You seem to want to make the entire segway more like the handlebar, and I want to make the entire segway more like the base...

Here's a photo of the base opened up:



Look at that chassis casting. Now that's a piece of industrial art! Look at how nicely those motors are nestled snugly into the center of all that aluminum. Look at those power transistors along the edges of the circuit boards and how they're heat-sunk into the chassis.

Puhleeeeze nobody mess with this thing of beauty that AIN'T BROKE!!!

Go out and work out with your i2 and press that 120 lbs until it's a piece of cake to get it into and out of your car. It's not that big a deal, and you'll be happier and healthier to boot!

[Isidore]

Originally Posted by SegwayDan

Here's a photo of the base opened up:



Look at that chassis casting. Now that's a piece of industrial art! Look at how nicely those motors are nestled snugly into the center of all that aluminum. Look at those power transistors along the edges of the circuit boards and how they're heat-sunk into the chassis.

Puhleeeeze nobody mess with this thing of beauty that AIN'T BROKE!!!

Go out and work out with your i2 and press that 120 lbs until it's a piece of cake to get it into and out of your car. It's not that big a deal, and you'll be happier and healthier to boot!

Well, that's an acceptable point of view and it is beautifully engineered, no doubt. Perhaps we should also have cars without power steering and no electric start either. Bulging biceps all round, even on women. On the other hand, it would seriously reduce drunk driving, if you can't start it you can't drive it.

[SegwayDan]

Originally Posted by Isidore

Well, that's an acceptable point of view and it is beautifully engineered, no doubt. Perhaps we should also have cars without power steering and no electric start either. Bulging biceps all round, even on women. On the other hand, it would seriously reduce drunk driving, if you can't start it you can't drive it.

You don't need bulging biceps to lift 120 lbs.

[KSagal]

I am all for people being strong. I don't equate the weight of a segway as being something that should or should not be lifted by most people, however...

I weigh a bit over 200 pounds, so lifting my i2 is about 60% of my body weight, and that is a bit much for a dead lift, and surely for an awkward lift.

Since I know I weigh more than many people, even if a person weighed 150 or 160 pounds, even a 25% weight loss in the base would still having people dead lifting more than half their body weight, and that is excessive.

I have had women on my segway that weigh less than it does. It is hardly reasonable to have them lift it into a car...

So?

I don't often lift my car, or my camper, or my couch, or many other items around me. If I need to move them, I employ tools to do that. Cars have jacks, campers have tow hitches, couches have dollies.

I believe that if a person has the capacity to figure out how to earn enough money to buy a segway, they should be able to figure out how to lift an item that is too heavy, using tools...

I believe I read something that the ability to use tools is considered a pretty basic in the human experience...

Ramps, lifts, segvators, and other tools may seem like a step too far, but they are necessary if the segway is to stay safe... As I see it, the segway should manufactured based on its safety and engineering needs, and the ability to lift it should be secondary...

By the weigh, () I choose my cars on several factors, and while economy is one of them, the curb weight is not... (As previously posted, many electric cars weigh more than their internal combustion alternatives) So while excess weight is a waste, all pounds are not...