"I rode the new segway today and it is so small and compact you could ride it right up to the class room and park it in front. It even had a remote alarm that detaches and snaps onto a bracelet you can wear like a watch, so if someone touches it, it alert you. It was very trick."
Segway Inc. has overhauled its self-balancing scooter with a new batch of technology that allows riders to start the device with a remote control and steer it simply by leaning in the direction they want to go.
"Some people describe it as very similar to skiing," the company’s chief technology officer, Doug Field, said of the new "LeanSteer" technology that replaces a set of handlebars as the Segway’s means of steering.
The new generation of the Segway Personal Transporter was unveiled Monday. It has a sleeker, more futuristic design than its predecessor, and a starting retail price of $4,995.
The company has stopped producing the older models but will continue to offer customer support to owners of older Segways.
Segway wanted to make the new version of the scooter more intuitive and fun to ride, a vehicle that "truly becomes an extension of your body," according to Field.
"The best interface is no interface at all," he said.
Like the original version, the rider still stands on a platform between two wheels and holds onto a handlebar supported by a stem that rises vertically from the base. But all of the electronics and wires have been removed from the top part of the machine.
The key to the new steering technology, Field said, is at the pivot point between the stem and the base, where a group of sensors "reads your body angle" and communicates the information to the software that controls what direction it travels.
The other major update is a wireless controller called the InfoKey which has four buttons and an LCD screen and looks like a large digital watch. It’s used to turn the scooter on, but also serves as "trip computer" with such functions as an odometer, speedometer and battery gauge.
It also can be used to activate an anti-theft alarm for when an owner leaves the device unattended. If the device is disturbed while the anti-theft feature is activated, the Segway locks up, sounds an alarm and sends a notice to its owner over the InfoKey.
Field said there has not been widespread problems with Segway thefts, but the device is such a target of curiosity that many users experience anxiety when they leave it unattended in public, even if only for a few minutes to run into a store.
Since its launch in 2001, the Segway has been widely praised for the sophisticated software engineering that allows a rider to balance effortlessly on two wheels. But its persistently high price often is cited as one of the reasons it has not yet lived up to the predictions of its inventor and backers that it would revolutionize personal transportation.
It is also sometimes mocked as the ultimate in tech geekiness. CNet Network Inc.’s technology Web site News.com put the nascent sport of Segway polo at the top of its list of the 10 worst technologies in the second quarter of 2006.
Still, the Segway has attracted an avid group of hardcore users who cherish their time "gliding" on the device. It’s also found niche markets around the world among police and security departments whose officers who use it to patrol a beat, and entrepreneurs who rent Segways out or lead tour groups of gliders.
The next-generation of Segway comes in two models, the i2 and the x2. The x2 is meant for more rugged terrain. Both have a top speed of 12.5 mph. The i2 can glide for up to 24 miles on a single battery charge, while the x2 can go 12 miles.
By the end of the year, the company plans to have six packages of the next-generation Segway available, including one meant for use as a one-person golf cart and others tailored for commuters, police and to haul cargo in commercial applications.
The company has kept details about its financial health a secret. President and Chief Executive James Norrod told The Associated Press in May that "tens of thousands" of Segways have been sold around the world, and that the company’s revenue has been growing by at least 50 percent over each of the last few years.
Norrod has made one of his top priorities as CEO to groom the company for an initial public offering or other liquidity event within the next few years.
"The new i2 features the new LeanSteer™ technology as well as the new InfoKey™ controller. The perfect synthesis of form, function and fun, the i2 lets you glide through your daily commute or zip from errand to errand, indoors and out, without worrying about parking.
The LeanSteer frame and handlebar tilt left and right in response to your body’s natural inclination to lean in the direction you want to travel. The i2 seems to anticipate your every move and adjusts to your slightest whim. The wireless InfoKey controller constantly monitors data such as battery level, speed and distance, and includes a new security feature to help protect your i2.
The i2 also comes equipped with Saphion® lithium-ion batteries. These durable batteries deliver an impressive range of up to 24 miles on a single charge (depending on terrain, riding style and payload). Saphion lithium-ion batteries are low-maintenance, have a long service life and can operate at battery temperatures as low as 14° F / -10° C. The i2 is available in a choice of gloss white or durable anodized black LeanSteer frames and trim."
"The x2 provides enhanced performance on varied terrain with minimal environmental impact. Featuring all-terrain tires, a robust fender design, lithium-ion batteries and specially tuned software, the rugged Segway x2 will go practically anywhere in the wild that you want to go, whether it’s along nature trails, over hilly terrain or on the beach.
The Segway x2’s low-pressure tires cushion the ride on bumpy surfaces and minimize trail impact, while a continuous center rib provides a smooth ride on paved surfaces. The increased track width increases stability on uneven ground, and the x2 happily navigates a variety of surfaces including sand, grass, gravel, dirt and pavement. Depending on local regulations, it may be possible to use the x2 on multi-use pathways but it is not intended for use on sidewalks or pedestrian walkways. Check out the Segway i2 for sidewalk use.
The x2 features Segway’s new LeanSteer technology, as well as the wireless InfoKey controller. These advancements make the ride even more intuitive and exhilerating and provide interesting trip data so you can track your journey from start to finish. The long-lasting lithium-ion batteries support the power demands of the x2, while still providing up to 12 miles of off-pavement range (depending on terrain, riding style and payload).
The sturdy fenders on the x2 are designed to protect you from debris and to safeguard you during leaning turns. The aluminum fender frames feature built-in lift handles that help you (and a friend!) get a grip on the x2 for loading in and out of a vehicle. The fender frames serve as a base for carrying cargo and are compatible with Segway cargo plates and the Segway Hard Cases by Givi."