Centaur - a Four-wheeled Segway

Mr. Protocol writes "Segway, the folks who brought you the two-wheeled wonder called the IT, have a new concept vehicle up on their website. Called Centaur, it's a four-wheeled version of the IT that pulls stable wheelies by acting like a two-wheeled IT. The movie (Windows Media or Quicktime) shows someone having far too much fun riding one."

Awesome

[Anonymous Coward]

Now, if they could just make it bigger, add some room for passengers, maybe some seats and a steering wheel, I could see people use them.

Re:Awesome

[gasp]

Looks like there's plenty of time to revise the design... Quote from the article:

"When will it be available?
At present time, Segway LLC has no plans to manufacture the Centaur."

Re:Awesome

[Wingit]

How about a three wheeled model that seven people can ride on. Unfortunately, at least one of the riders must pedal. http://www.conferencebike.com/ [conferencebike.com]

Re:Awesome

[mikepaktinat]

Sorry, maddox already called for a 3-wheel version, he has prior-art
http://maddox.xmission.net/c.cgi?u=segway_more_com plicated_than_it_needs_to_be [xmission.net]
check that out, funny as always

Re:Awesome

[WormholeFiend]

I hope they licence the technology for Hummers, for the ultimate intimidation experience of a giant SUV doing a wheelie on the freeway!

Re:Awesome

[Jeff DeMaagd]

Now, if they could just make it bigger, add some room for passengers, maybe some seats and a steering wheel, I could see people use them.

If this were true, a lot more people would be using golf carts.

City Redesign

[mumblestheclown]

Cities are being redesigned as we speak to accomodate this thing, I'm sure.

Re:City Redesign

[Carnildo]

This one seems to be targeted at the off-road crowd. I'm sure they'll make the neccessary changes to hiking trails in short order.

Re:City Redesign

[Speaker to Sendmail]

The appropriate changes to HIKING trails? For a wheeled, motorized vehicle? Would those be caltrops and tripwires? Or just arming the wildlife?

Re:City Redesign

[Carnildo]

Since this vehicle has solid rubber tires, dragons' teeth and antitank mines seem more appropriate.

Re:City Redesign

[homer_ca]

Yes, because if there's one thing every hiking trail needs, it's an electric ATV quad that can do self balancing wheelies.

Direct link to high-speed video...

[swordboy]

Sorry about the Windows Media [speedera.net]...

Re:City Redesign

[farmgeek]

No, but this looks like it might actually be usable outside the city, where I live.

I can't remember the last time I saw a sidewalk.

Re:City Redesign

[superdan2k]

Did you not read the press release closely? The wilderness is being redesigned as we speak to accomodate this thing.

That said, the first time someone tries to pass me on one of these while I'm mountain biking, I'm giving them the shoulder. Hard.

Re:City Redesign

[genner]

And it will keep it's balance and keep going. The
whole idea is that this things untipoverable.
It's ideal for people who are always "getting the shoulder".

"Look ma no hands!" "Wear your helmet dear!"

[garcia]

The movie (Windows Media or Quicktime) shows someone having far too much fun riding one."

Well duh, he's trying to make up for the fact that he looks like a huge dork with that fucking helmet on. :)

Why...?

[FortKnox]

If someone wants to spend a TON of money on a bike, there ARE expensive bikes out there....

Re:Why...?

[Kozar_The_Malignant]

> If someone wants to spend a TON of money on a bike, there ARE expensive bikes out there....

Indeed, a new Ducati would be way more fun.

So...

[Tuxedo Jack]

Does this mean that I could play polo off one, or play the Texas Roadkill game?

Look, a politician! Twenty points!

Re:So...

[temojen]

Were you referring to This [imdb.com]?

Re:So...

[martingunnarsson]

Segway polo [boingboing.net] can be played quite well with the two-wheeled model.

More consumer confidence?

[jargoone]

Not that everyone has the money to shell out for one of these things, but the fact that it has 4 wheels might make people less nervous about it.

It would also lead to fewer of these incidents: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technolog y/maney/2003-06-17-segway_x.htm [usatoday.com]

Re:More consumer confidence?

[DunbarTheInept]

It also appears to be faster, and therefore possibly actually useful. I suspect that if the segway went more that a piddly 10 Mph people might have actually warmed up to the idea despite how dorky it looks (people got used to wearing bicycle helmets, right? When they first started showing up, everyone thought they looked really dorky and now they're ordinary and mundane.) The problem with the segway as sold was that even a rather out-of-shape person can still make 10 Mph easily on a bicycle without brea

But does it come in olive?

[apparently]

I don't care how many wheelies it can "pop", if it doesn't come in olive, then I don't want one!

Re:But does it come in olive?

[Shadow Wrought]

If it came in yellow it would waterproof;-)

Who cares?

[lothar97]

Yawn. It's an electric stripped down four wheel ATV- likely many times the cost of other ATVs. Oh wait, this one can, get this, TURN AROUND ON TWO WHEELS. Turning around on four wheels is for sissies anyways.

I'll ride a four wheeler [smigelski.org] over this piece of crap Centaur.

Yes, that is me on the four wheeler.

Re:Who cares?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why did you post a pic of you taking a crap on a kid's ATV?

Help a Unix user...

[numbski]

Movie Here [wmsegwayna...centaurwmv]

Tried opening it in Windows Media Player for OSX, and MPlayer with no love.

Anyone?

Also fails in VLC

[numbski]

But you probably already knew that, didn't you? Complains that there's no support for WMV3. Yay.

Re:Help a Unix user...

[numbski]

uh...eh?

mms://wm.segway.na-central.speedera.net/wm.segwa y. na-central/conceptcentaur.wmv

Movie here [wmsegwayna...centaurwmv]

Re:Help a Unix user...

[Hobbex]

It played just fine using mplayer and mplayer-plugin for Mozilla. I have installed some hacked up windows dlls though I think.

what quicktime version?

[johnpaul191]

if it's there i don't see the link anywhere.. let alone near the wmv one..... maybe it is gone?

Twice as many wheels

[lucabrasi999]

So, with twice as many wheels as the Segway, will it be twice as useless?

Re:Twice as many wheels

[El]

will it be twice as useless? No, it will be twices as useful! Remember 2x0=0, but you can't get any more useless than completly, hopelessly, 100% useless.

Re:Twice as many wheels

[jcostantino]

Uhh... try twice as expensive.

Re:Twice as many wheels

[IronChef]

No, but it will be twice as expensive.

Bush will be Happy

[kai.chan]

Well, one good thing about this new Centaur is that it is less likely for Bush to fall off of.

He has no need for it.

[cliveholloway]

Isn't he on the wagon at the moment?

Thank you. I'll be hear all week.

cLive ;-)

Re:Bush will be Happy

[stretch0611]

Well, one good thing about this new Centaur is that it is less likely for Bush to fall off of.

This is still Bush we are talking about. He can't handle a normal segway; he can't handle a normal bike. I think the Centaur would be more difficult to for Bush to handle.

Re:I wouldn't be too sure about that

[SCHecklerX]

Well, to be fair, mountainbikers often fall off of their mountainbikes. Of course, we are doing a bit more than riding it down the sidewalk. On a related note, I just ordered an '05 Fox Talas for my Heckler :-D

/.'ed

[HavokDevNull]

Posted as AC to not Karma whore

Use Mirrordot.org
http://www.mirrordot.org/stories/d7 903342e513d1a61 633a0ff9e266f35/index.html

Re:/.'ed

[lucabrasi999]

Posted as AC to not Karma whore

Do you know what would really be helpful? If Slashdot had some sort of "preview" function. That way, you could preview your post before you submited it.

See, that's why they pay me the seven figure salary. I'm an thought leader.

Re:/.'ed

[lucabrasi999]

I'm an thought leader.

See, I told you they needed a "preview" function!

Re:/.'ed

[TigerNut]

You mean this page [mirrordot.org]

How to render the segway obsolete:

[otis wildflower]

I wonder if maddox [xmission.com] can expect a cut?

no thanks...

[v_1matst]

ummmmm.... remember these?

http://www.atv-racing.dk/image/lt-z400.jpg

much more useful...

the "IT"?

[iammaxus]

Ever since the media buzz died down, I don't think anyone calls it the "IT". Segway, two-wheeled scooter thingy maybe, but "IT"?

Re:the "IT"?

[iammaxus]

I'm afraid you are entirely incorrect: http://www.segway.com/segway/ [segway.com]. The "Segway HT" (Human Transporter) is the real name. The media started calling it just "it" to try to emphasize its uniqueness and indescribability. I bet Segway had a hand in that.

Suggestion-

[Ralph Wiggam]

I propose a new corporate slogan.

Segway: Solving problems that don't exist since 2001.

Think they'll go for it?

-B

Re:Suggestion-

[lucabrasi999]

depending on how well it'll haul a log around and how well it handles real terrain.

Or, you could just buy an ATV with a trailer.

In other news...

[rackhamh]

Segway has announced a revolutionary new balance system. Code-named "kickstand", this invention is expected to revolutionize the parking process for light-weight transportation vehicles in major cities worldwide. Patent pending.

Exersize

[bludstone]

This looks like one of those "humping" exersize equipment dealies.

You know what Im talking about.

This is just great...

[Dracolytch]

For all the geeks that don't have balance enough for a skateboard, are convinced that a scooter isn't dorky enough, believe that bicycles are generally too damn cheap, and are too lazy for any of the above.

~D

Re:This is just great...

[cft_128]

believe that bicycles are generally too damn cheap

Not the bikes that I like....

What else would they be doing?

[RobertB-DC]

From time to time Segway's product development team devotes days, or even weeks, to creating new product concepts with the goal of finding a prince among frogs. It's a product exploration process they call "frog kissing." During this time, engineers and designers are encouraged to use any available materials in a very short time frame to prove a concept will work.

What else *would* the Segway "product development team" be doing these days? They've only got one product -- the Segway. Other than designing

Re:What else would they be doing?

[Mr. No Skills]

I was thinking the same thing.

Segway seems to have one idea, and a bunch of extra wheels. I think the ATV and Golf Cart market has been figured out using a reverse gear instead of a lot of gyros. They need to figure out how to drive the price of their wheelchairs down a couple of thousand dollars before the exo-skeleton guys do.

What's the point?

[randall_burns]

The wheelchair segway was significant IMHO-I had one relative that could have benefited from it. These other vehicles just aren't living up the hype. Unlike what John Doehr claimed, cities _aren't_ going to be built around these things. Most people need to get more exercise-not more toys.

Re:What's the point?

[Shky]

Parent is of course refering to the iBot [independencenow.com], Dean Kamen's wheelchair which allows the user to go up and down stairs, as well as going up on the back wheels to be eye-level with people.

It's pretty amazing, and like parent said, actually has a purpose. It allows people in wheelchairs to not be confined to one level of a house, or require assistance to reach things above them.

Re:What's the point?

[argent]

the iBot [independencenow.com] , Dean Kamen's wheelchair [...] actually has a purpose

Which is why it's being sold by a real company with an actual profit motive and targeted marketing and realistic sales goals and other non-visionary characteristics.

Re:What's the point?

[Suidae]

The most unusual technology in the wheel chair is its self-balancing capability. Since people are unfamiliar with this capacity of a machine, anyone marketing such a niche-market thing as a wheelchair might want to first introduce everyone to the concept, then segue into the wheelchair market with the know well known and accepted technology.

Re:What's the point?

[freeze128]

At present time, Segway LLC has no plans to manufacture the Centaur.

So, what's the point? "Look, see! Isn't that cool? We don't sell these."

Re:What's the point?

[ShawnDoc]

The point is to judge public opinion. They obviously think the Centaur is at point in development where it could go on to become an actual product in the future, and not just a proof of concept. So the question now becomes, do they invest the addition money needed to perfect the Centaur and bring it to market? Well to make that decision, you need all sorts of marketing feedback, and with a niche product like this it is often really hard to judge if people would actually purchase one. So to get that in

Look at the guy in the picture with the blue

[Jakhel]

helmet that's doing a power slide on the golf course. He is the uber-dork. His dorkiness surpasses that of any movie-theater-camping-while-wearing-a-homemade-sta r-wars-costume dork in the world.

The only thing worse than seeing grown men wearing helmets and riding that thing is probably grown men wearing helmets and riding those little razor scooters.

Re:Look at the guy in the picture with the blue

[kitzilla]

Adults riding with helmets generally look less dorky after a casual impact than their uber-cool, non-helmet-wearing bretheren.

Cool, could be practical, but pricepoint will tell

[landoltjp]

It's quite the cool looking little buggy. I can see someone using that for a (very) local commute, or to scoot about the neighbourhood to do some shopping.

There are several (older)people in my 'hood that use those adult tricycles with the large shopping basket, so this might be the next best thing for them. That is, if the price is right.

If they could design the unit to fold down flat, I could drive it to work and then store it upright against a wall (INSIDE my office, so it won't get poached) with

I want to see what one of these can do...

[Dr Reducto]

As a mountain biker, this looks like it would be fun for some good-ole-fashioned freeriding.

Some befed up suspension, wheels, and this thing would be an off road monster.

I'll wait for the Griffon

[grunt107]

It'll be able to fly!!!

They should call it

[roman_mir]

Segway: no matter how many wheels it has, the website is still down.

Yeah, but

[goneutt]

Its rugged performance, zero emissions, and quiet operation make it a good low-impact way to explore the world.

Sounds like my mountain bike, except after I've had a can of beans.

Re:Yeah, but

[CTalkobt]

>>Its rugged performance, zero emissions, and quiet operation make it a good low-impact way to explore the world.

>Sounds like my mountain bike, except after I've had a can of beans.

Remember, it said zero emissions.

Obligatory Wheelman Link

[EtherAlchemist]

It doesn't climb stairs, alone or in pairs, but WILL roll over you neighbor's dog. It's not fit for a snack but fits on your back, it's log - log - log. Er, Wheelman [wheelman.com.au].

Seriously though, I would buy one of the Centaurs, if for nothing else than hunting and collecting fossils. Some of the terrain I go out on is steep for people but easily handled by ATVs.

I've seen Segways being used by parking meter guys here in Seattle with big ass steel boxes on the side, I imagine the same kind of saddlebag outfit could

Re:Obligatory Wheelman Link

[El]

Why would you not use it over an ATV? What's the range? Methinks walking out 10 miles carrying this pig when the battery goes dead would not be fun... A tank of gas has still got a lot more energy stored per unit weight than a battery!

Re:Obligatory Wheelman Link

[EtherAlchemist]

The Centaur looks much more nimble, I don't think I'd care for several hundred pounds of ATV rolling over on me.

Clearly though, if the range was mediocre, I wouldn't be going very far unless I could swap out batteries.

Your point is completely valid though, however maybe it would be better if a gas/electric hybrid could be made out of this. It wouldn't add much wieght to it at all. If they did that, the range would increase dramatically (espcially if the gas engine was used only to charge the batts once

Re:Obligatory Wheelman Link

[ShawnDoc]

According to an article that was linked from Fark about this, the Centaur is absolutely silent. Great for noise polution, especially if you live in a modestly populated area where the neighbors don't appreciate it when you get drunk and start running the ATV around the street at 1AM, waking them up with all the noise. It might also be good for hunters to they don't scare the deer/birds/small children away.

It will completely revolutionize transportation.

[bareman]

Next on the list they'll add a body to it so the rider can site inside to endure uncomfortable weather. They could call it a "car".

So wait a second

[aztektum]

Centaur Rider: I can ride balanced on two wheels!

Segway Rider: So can I!

Duh

(I know they said they aren't planning on manufacturing it. It just seemed like a "Wtf" to me.)

I can see one clear application...

[StressGuy]

This might even be in the article, can't read it because it's already slashdotted. However, it sure seems like this would be a great idea for a wheelchair. This would give people confined to such a chair the ability to stand. The Segway was a silly little expensive scooter, but this could be a real boon to such people.

Re:I can see one clear application...

[jcostantino]

The company actually makes one:

http://www.dynopower.freeserve.co.uk/homepages/new chair.htm [freeserve.co.uk]

Wow, this is cool!

[mcg1969]

I love how it can balance on its back two wheels with such little effort.

It seems to me that these Segway folks could harness that balancing technology to make a scooter with only two wheels. Now that would be cool.

Wow!

[brj]

Segway has managed to invent something that will sell fewer units of than the Human Transporter. I didn't think that they could actually accomplish that goal, but it looks like they've been working hard at it.

A lot more information about the Centaur at Popsci

[DocJohn]

See the article about Concept Centaur in next month's Popular Science magazine for more information and photos:

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/generaltech/article/0 ,20967,710982,00.html [popsci.com]

-

design change

[frankmu]

they should recline the seat and paint it red. make it look more like this:

http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/akira/figure2.html

"KANEDAAAAA!!!!!"

Sinclair C5 - Ahead of its Time

[turgid]

In my day, these [f9.co.uk] things were going to be the next big thing. They were so ahead of their time, that French car maker Citroen [citroen.com] saw fit to name one of their newer models [citroen.co.uk] after it.

Alcohol Fuelcell

[computechnica]

Forget the batteries that take hours to recharge and run down halfway home. Have a alcohol fuel cell onboard and you could fill up at the local liquor store. Or maybe a alcohol fueled micro-turbine generator for some real power.

Re:Alcohol Fuelcell

[Mr. Protocol]

Somebody did demo one of these (hydrogen fuel cell) at the "Segfest" in Florida where the Centaur was announced (/. story rejected). It filled a cargo bag, but it did work. The batteries being by far the bulkiest part of the IT package, Segway would go for fuel cells in a big way if they could figure out a way to prevent them from going Hindenburg.

From the product description:

[zombiestomper]

From time to time Segway's product development team devotes days, or even weeks, to creating new product concepts with the goal of finding a prince among frogs.

Actually, I think they're really looking for a fool and his money.

1. Intuitive user controls:

Thumbs forward: The Centaur's forward and backward propulsion is easily controlled by pushing a thumb throttle located on the underside of the right-hand handlebar.

Innovation, thy name is Segway. Kinda like a Rascal [rascalscooters.com], eh? Genius!

2. Pop a wheelie: Th

unicycle

[benjonson]

Now, a powered, unicycle segway. Woot.

Re:unicycle

[Mazem]

Now, a powered, unicycle segway. Woot.

Someone already made one [tlb.org]. Its called the Eunicycle. Apparently operation is rather intuitive as well since all you have to do to turn is lean.

HT, not IT

[cocotoni]

The Segway product is Segway HT [segway.com] not IT.

HT stands for Human Transporter.

Yet another concept vehicle tease

[Kurt Gray]

"How much does it cost? Since Concept Centaur is just that--a concept--they aren't for sale. At the present time, Segway LLC has no plans to manufacture or sell this as a product."

Which is why I hate you Segway.

Halo's warthog, anyone?

[puargsss]

Does this remind anyone else of the Warthog from Halo? Throw some 4 wheel steering on this bad boy, it'd be very similar. Well, at least I think so.

Oh God

[ReidMaynard]

I can picture an early owner getting beaten on by a gang of Big Wheelers.

They're finally getting it!

[Presence1]

One of the biggest mistakes Segway made with the HT was to avoid any hint of association with fun or competition. This was a deliberate and political choice, as part of their efforts to ensure that the HT would be legal for use on sidewalks.

While a good goal, this kind of thinking resulted in a vehicle with no suspension and other constraints. With zero ability to handle potholes and terrain, we saw some over-publicized injuries, and it wound up being banned in some cities anyway.

In contrast, the Centaur is designed for FUN and interesting capabilities -- I like it, and I'm cheering them on with this one! (of course I'd also like to see a lighter and more capable HT with a suspension)

Re:I've got one of them!

[lothar97]

But is your golf buggy as cool as this one? [smigelski.org]

The one in the picture is quite unsafe, but it's soooo much cooler looking than the Centaur. And we all know that looking cool is the most imporant thing out there!

Re:Wait a minute...

[somethinghollow]

The only cool thing about putting 4 wheels on the Segway HT (aka Centaur) is that you can climb over curbs. I've seen several places since I moved to LA that don't have handycap ramps on corners. I think you might be able to ramp an HT off of a curb, but you are pretty screwed if you want to get back on the curb AND stay on the machine w/o a ramp. This thing (apparently) makes that possible. If it could also climb stairs (on thing I think the HT should be able to do to be a viable form of personal-area-

Re:Wait a minute...

[SidV]

Segway can go up a curve (within reason) and while I would never do it it can go down stairs (seen it with my own eyes) and have heard of credible rumors of people going up stairs down at Segfest last weekend. All while riding. But curbs aren't much of an issue, for drastic curbs you only need to put one foot down for a little assist, and Ive also seen people do drastic curves without using the foot, however there was a lot of air time, not something I would be comfortable doing.

Re:Saw a wheelchair version of this a few years ag

[DarkBlackFox]

You're probably thinking of the Ibot [dekaresearch.com] wheelchair, which debuted before the Segway, but still invented by Dean Kamen and DEKA. Same/Similar technology, but differant company. The Centaur is a concept thrown out by Segway engineers which they thought would be fun to build. It's more of a "hey this might be cool" kind of thing they built for the heck of it, they have no plans to market/manufacture these things. The Ibot on the other hand, is a product that will be marketed eventually.

Re:a bicycle

[plastik55]

Heh, like

Doh, didn't close tag

[plastik55]

I say, like this [encycleopedia.com]?

Re:slashdot = link stealers

[Mr. Protocol]

Yeah, you're right! I must've stolen the story from that site! (Not.) But perhaps it'd be a better site to follow tech news on. Few enough people read it that it doesn't take the target site down like /. does. Seriously. That's a good consideration. (And Engadget is indeed a good site.)