SEGWAY® x2 - How it Works
The
x2
model is optimized for outdoor use. The x2 has larger
Wheels and wider Tires with knobbly treads, and
is intended for use on more varied and rugged terrain
than other models.
The x2's
wider stance and lowpressure Tires provide increased
stability and traction on rough
terrain. The x2 is not intended for use on sidewalks.
Dynamic
Stabilization
That's fancy speak for the tech that enables balancing.
It's proprietary and full of benefits such as incredible
maneuverability (true zero turning radius), a small
footprint and providing a fantastically unique riding
experience.
Electric
Propulsion
Besides being clean and extremely efficient, electric
propulsion enables fine adjustments to be made to
each wheel (for turning and smoothing out the ride),
and a precise, software-based approach to traction
control and braking.
Smart Battery Management
Segway is one of the world's largest customers of
large format batteries, and was at the forefront
of the development of Lithium Ion batteries for
transportation. We've learned a lot about the advanced
sensing needed inside and applied this expertise
to allow for more efficient energy use that leads
to a longer battery life. Add in regenerative braking
capability (being able to recharge while decelerating)
and that's some smart battery tech.
Advanced
Sensing
If there's a feeling you get when trying a Segway
product, it's like it can almost read your mind.
Well, it's not magic. It's the combination of propulsion,
energy, inertial sensing and an incredibly intuitive
user interface that enables a ride that will force
you to hold back a smile. Hopefully someday you'll
have a chance to try it out and feel good about
your commute instead of fearing it.
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SEGWAY®
x2 Specifications Sheet
| Weight |
Tyre
Width |
Footprint |
Max
Speed |
Battery
Range |
 |
54.4
kg |
20cm |
53.34
x 83.82cm |
20
km/h |
19km
on a flat
Up to 35km with
downhill battery Regeneration
(up to 10 hours in park mode) |
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The
rugged SEGWAY®
x2 (off-road model)
Following
in the footsteps of its predecessor, the
Segway
XT - the new SEGWAY®
x2 is optimized for outdoor use.
The SEGWAY®
x2’s
wider stance and low pressure tyres provide
increased stability and traction on rough
terrain.
With the SEGWAY®
x2,
you can chart your own course. Its innovative
design moves you over a variety of terrain,
be it the grass in your backyard or the
gravel and dirt in your favourite off road
spot.
Deeply treaded tyres, scratch resistant
fenders and higher ground clearance give
you a smooth, stable ride, and the durability
you’ve come to expect from Segway.
With the unmatched performance of Segway’s
LeanSteer technology, your body will anticipate
and conquer the trail ahead.
Enjoy the road less travelled with the Segway
x2. It’s rugged, tough, and designed
to take you places. |
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The
rugged
SEGWAY®
x2 (off-road model)
When Dean Kamen
unveiled the SEGWAY®
Personal Transporter (PT) on ABC's Good Morning
America, he described the machine as "the world's
first self-balancing human transporter." When
you look at the machine in motion, you get an idea
of what he's talking about. Unlike a car, the SEGWAY®
x2 only has two wheels,
yet it manages to stay upright by itself.
To
move forward or backward on the SEGWAY®
x2,
the rider just leans slightly forward or backward.
To turn left or right, the rider simply moves the
LeanSteer frame left or right. You get the sense
of power and speed, yet you also feel a sense of
safety and absolute control. It all feels natural,
safe, and instinctive.
The SEGWAY®
x2
can take you places that a car or bicycle can't
- including inside many stores, office buildings,
businesses, airports, elevators, and trains. Although
they're ideal for short jaunts, SEGWAY®
x2
can travel as far as 24 miles/38 km on a single
battery charge, depending on terrain, payload, and
riding style. Like any invention that's ahead of
its time, the SEGWAY®
x2
is often misunderstood.
The gleeful smiles of SEGWAY®
x2
riders may have created an impression that this
is ...well...a toy. But make no mistake, while a
SEGWAY®
x2
is incredibly fun to ride, it is serious transportation
designed for today's world.
The SEGWAY®
x2
and
other segway models have 4 sensors underneath the
rubber foot pads. when leaning forward, the pressure
on front sensors will cause the x2 to begin moving
forward, and when leaning back, the electrical brushless
motors slow down and will eventually stop and begin
to rotate backwards, and the x2 will go in reverse.
Combining your forward leaning with either a left
or right movement of the leanSteer column simultaneously
whilst in forward motion, will enable you to maneuver
through and around obstacles with ease.
The SEGWAY®
x2
is
is undoubtedly one of the easiest and most fun electric
human transporters you will ever ride.
Segway®
Solid State Gyroscopes:
A conventional gyroscope
would be cumbersome and difficult to maintain in
this sort of vehicle, so the Segway gets the same
effect with a different sort of mechanism. Segways
use a special solid-state angular rate sensor constructed
using silicon. This sort of gyroscope determines
an object's rotation using the Coriolis effect on
a very small scale.
A typical solid-state silicon gyroscope consists
of a tiny silicon plate mounted on a support frame.
The silicon particles are moved by an electrostatic
current applied across the plate. The particles
move in a particular way, which causes the plate
to vibrate in a predictable manner. But when the
plate is rotated around its axis (that is, when
the Segway rotates in that particular plane), the
particles suddenly shift in relation to the plate.
This alters the vibration, and the change is in
proportion to the degree of rotation. The gyroscope
system measures the change in vibration, and passes
this information on to the computer. In this way,
the computer can figure out when the Segway is rotating
along particular axes.
The Segway has five gyroscopic sensors,
though it only needs three to detect forward and
backward pitch as well as leaning to the left or
right (termed "roll"). The extra sensors
add redundancy, to make the vehicle more reliable.
Additionally, the Segway has two tilt sensors filled
with electrolyte fluid. Like your inner ear, this
system figures out its own position relative to
the ground based on the tilt of the fluid surface.
All of the tilt information is passed on to the
"brain" of the vehicle, two electronic
controller circuit boards comprising a cluster of
microprocessors. The Segway has a total of 10
onboard microprocessors, which boast,
in total, about three times the power of a typical
PC. Normally, both boards work together, but if
one board breaks down, the other will take over
all functions so that the system can notify the
rider of a failure and shut down gracefully.
Segway®
Brain Power:
The Segway requires this much brain power because
it needs to make extremely precise adjustments to
keep from falling over. In normal operation, the
controller boards check the position sensors about
100 times per second. The microprocessors run an
advanced piece of software that monitors all of
the stability information and adjusts the speed
of several electric motors accordingly. The electric
motors, which are powered by a pair of rechargeable
nickel metal hydride (NIMH) or Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries, can turn each of the wheels independently
at variable speeds.
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