Two self-balancing skateboards I have developed were demonstrated at the Maker Faire Newcastle UK, March 2010. Earlier footage of these machines can be seen in my other videos. This was the first time they had been ridden in wide open spaces and indoors on the smooth floor of a conference centre. People of all ages had a go and asked about plans/kits etc. Many were teenagers interested in electronics. The two wheeler shown here was pretty expensive with Lithium batteries and so on. It is clear to me that the next project, now I know I can make these work, is to see how far I can reduce the cost. 25/3/10: have built this now with an instructable: www.instructables.com Video of low build cost version: www.youtube.com Link to my website with several other variations on the theme: sites.google.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
21 comments
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Wilzhu says:
January 26, 2012 at 12:28 pm (UTC 0)
Where did you buy the wheels? i have watched for Razor E200:s wheels, but it looks like it is impossible to order them in europe.. And how powerful motors do you use?
frankyredeyes12 says:
January 26, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC 0)
This proves how lazy people are
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC 0)
@kingheyzeus
I have built one where feet almost skim the ground as you suggest that you can pick up and put in a car with one (strong) hand. Would be OK for shopping malls and places like that. See links on my website (Link included in text under this video)
Also check out the German “ewee” machine.
Best wishes
John
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 1:57 pm (UTC 0)
@iWearShortz
Steered with a nunchuck. Also end button on chuck kills motors if released.
Also now works with a wireless chuck.
iWearShortz says:
January 26, 2012 at 2:29 pm (UTC 0)
1:32 NUNCHUCK!
kingheyzeus says:
January 26, 2012 at 2:43 pm (UTC 0)
Go after the wheelchair bound market that would like to STAND and look people in the eye again, move through a crowd, reach a top shelf. Just have to figure a way to”strap” them on…think of the possibilities…..
Davmeister13 says:
January 26, 2012 at 3:26 pm (UTC 0)
Think i might stick with my normal board for now.
killiam2k9 says:
January 26, 2012 at 3:48 pm (UTC 0)
gay how fast cn it go
xValtrexlamax says:
January 26, 2012 at 3:49 pm (UTC 0)
gayyyyyyyyyyyy
poptart98765 says:
January 26, 2012 at 3:58 pm (UTC 0)
thats a fuckn segway but retarded
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 4:41 pm (UTC 0)
Its a 24V 12 Amp/hr LiFePO4 battery so work it out.
Evi1M4chine says:
January 26, 2012 at 5:31 pm (UTC 0)
I bet the reason that they cut the video so often, is that the battery dies after about 10 seconds. ^^
hectorocity says:
January 26, 2012 at 5:46 pm (UTC 0)
Layla
naplam says:
January 26, 2012 at 5:58 pm (UTC 0)
o/t, anybody knows what’s the song in minute 4, 4:20, 4:40?
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 6:12 pm (UTC 0)
I think this is my pitch! Send me a message. Steve Wosniak is probably the most famous Segway user.
I have shown on another vid how you can get the cost down.
I will double the top speed, people seem to want that, and improve the steering making it more intuitive, maybe with no hand controller at all. Plenty more development potential yet.
The aim with this one was to keep it light and small enough to be carried with one hand. I have this vision of students whizzing around campus on them.
PS3NSKYLINE34 says:
January 26, 2012 at 6:57 pm (UTC 0)
you need to pitch this someone and get some backing. this could be a huge seller
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 7:32 pm (UTC 0)
@Kresjan6
Yes. There was a board called the Emanual (V1) that steered by having tilting deck read by an optical sensor.
Also someone else (skatanova I think it was called) has tried pressure sensors – that is what I may try next.
Aiming to improve steering so a second gyro controls rate of turn depending on speed at the time making it a more natural feeling. Projects like this are never finished, always room for more improvement.
John
Kresjan6 says:
January 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm (UTC 0)
i love that board!! i was wondering could u mount the board on a pivot and have the accelerometer and gyroscope do the turning as well by leaning to one side or the other thereby eliminating the wii nunchuck?
XenonJohnD says:
January 26, 2012 at 8:51 pm (UTC 0)
@Alexthebestia
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your OSMC! I fried a £100 gyro in the past putting 12V across it.
I have come back from Maker Faire and developed a stripped down Arduino based twin wheeler that should be not too hard to build. See my other videos and it is there now. There is a link to an Intructables page in the info section that shows you how to build it in great detail.
Best wishes
John
Alexthebestia says:
January 26, 2012 at 9:16 pm (UTC 0)
Very nice work.
I built the one wheeled skateboard spending a ton of money, and one day I found it on fire for a short circuit (it was my fault, I left an unsoldered led on the circuit and one of its pins blew out everything)
all the sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, the pic and I think the osmc too) are gone
I love your two wheeled version, maybe one day I’ll restart the project and I’ll steal your idea
techowner says:
January 26, 2012 at 9:55 pm (UTC 0)
Nice, how do they do that?