Segway Personal Transporter

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Segway PT Driver in Atlanta (2006)

The Segway PT ( Segway PT, formerly HT for Human vans, usually short Segway ) is an electrically driven single-person vehicle with only two on the same (geometrical) axis lying wheels , between which is the transported person and by an electronic drive control keeps itself in balance. He was from December 2001 to July 2020 by Segway Inc. of Bedford in the US state of New Hampshire made. A successor model is not planned.

Structure and functionality

Segway cockpit

The driver stands between two adjacent wheels on a platform and can support himself on a handlebar. Each wheel is driven by a separate electric motor as a single wheel drive. Different speeds of the wheels allow cornering as with tracked vehicles .

The vehicle is self-balancing . An electronic control circuit allows the Segway to automatically drive in the direction in which the driver leans. As soon as the inclination sensors (semiconductor gyroscopes ) register that the driver is leaning forwards or backwards, the wheels turn in this direction. Movement is only controlled by shifting your weight, there are no controls for braking or accelerating. This mode of operation corresponds to the upright walk, in which the center of gravity of the body is always above the contact surface of the feet. The Segway is therefore intuitive to use.

Pivoting the handlebar (about an axis that runs horizontally forward at the level of the platform) to the right or left causes the corresponding cornering or turning while standing. As soon as the driver tilts the handlebar to one side, this is detected by the inclination sensors and that respective wheel turns more slowly and causes cornering.

Technical specifications

Segway PT at the Robot Museum in Nagoya , Japan (2007)
speed 0-20 km / h. In contrast to other two-wheelers, it is stable even when driving slowly and at a standstill. Never more than 20 km / h, not even downhill: To limit the speed, the wheels move in front of the driver, who is then pushed back by the handlebars (speed limiter).
Range up to 38 km (model i2) with one charge of the lithium-ion batteries (LiFePo4 cells), depending on a. the weight of the driver, inclines, surface, driving style, temperature, tire pressure and wind.
Models with wide low-pressure tires: 19 km off-road (model x2); 22.5 km on the golf course (model x2 Golf)
Turning circle Vehicle can be turned "on the spot", the circumference of the vehicle's outer contour is around 0.8 m (model i2)
Length × width The stand area is
63 × 63 cm (model i2);
67 × 84 cm (model x2)
Tire: diameter × width 48 (19 ") × approx. 8.8 cm (model i2) on 35 cm thermoplastic rims;
53 (21") × 17.7 cm (model x2) on 25 cm aluminum rims;
53 × 20 cm (model x2) (tubeless, "puncture-proof")
Platform height / ground clearance 21 / 7.6 cm (model i2);
24.13 / 11.43 cm (model x2)
Weight 47.7 kg (model i2);
54.4 kg (model x2).
Payload 45–118 kg, of which max. 4.5 kg on the handlebar
consumption ≈ 3 kWh per 100 km - regenerative system when driving downhill
CO₂ emissions 23 g / km for power generation
For comparison:
car 170 g / km (average consumption 7 l / 100 km),
scooter ≈80 g / km
Charging time 8-10 hours with completely empty batteries, integrated charger for charging at normal sockets (110-230 V)
redundancy All safety-relevant elements are available twice (batteries, gyroscopes, motor windings, computers). In the event of a sudden failure of a component, the Segway PT still comes to a stable and safe stop.
Regenerative brake When braking or driving downhill, electrical energy is recovered and stored in the batteries.

Development history

The inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen (2002)
The predecessor of the Segway: the iBot wheelchair ( Bill Clinton and Dean Kamen)
Logo of the manufacturer, Segway Inc. in Bedford, New Hampshire / USA

The Segway PT is an invention by Dean Kamen , who originally developed the principle of dynamic stabilization for the iBot (code name: Fred ) power wheelchair . The iBot thus overcomes stairs and can lift its user at eye level with a standing conversation partner.

The transfer of the automatic balancing system to an “everyday vehicle for everyone” followed from the vision of relieving congested cities from car traffic. The Segway PT was therefore designed as a serious means of transport and not as a fashion or fun vehicle.

The product development (code name: Ginger ) and the construction of the production devoured more than 100 million US dollars in venture capital and were accompanied by many rumors that were fueled by the prominence of the inventor and his negotiating partners in the capital acquisition ( e.g. Amazon.com - Amazon.com Chef Jeff Bezos , Apple boss Steve Jobs , venture capital legend John Doerr ). The first public demonstration of the device took place on December 3, 2001 on the television program "Good Morning America". Steve Jobs predicted the vehicle would be the future of urban transportation, and John Doerr believed Segway Inc. would grow into billions in sales in no time. By 2009, sales failed to meet these expectations with a total of over 50,000 vehicles. One of the reasons for the lack of distribution is the purchase price (in Germany from approx. 8,000 euros (as of 2010)). A replacement battery costs 1,400 euros, and the average service life of a battery is three years.

The first generation Segways (models i167, p133, i170, i180 and XT) still have a rigid handlebar with a twist grip for steering. Since August 2006 only vehicles of the second generation have been produced (models i2 and x2), equipped with Lean Steer steering, a wireless info key and an electronic immobilizer.

In cooperation with the car manufacturer General Motors, Segway Inc. developed a two-seater, two-wheeled city vehicle with a top speed of 50 km / h and a range of 50 km. On April 7th, 2009 the companies presented the first PUMA prototype.

Segway Inc. was taken over in December 2009 by the British entrepreneur Jimi Heselden , who had a fatal accident in September 2010. He fell over a cliff into the River Wharfe with a prototype Segway . In 2015 Segway Inc. was taken over by the Chinese competitor Ninebot with the help of venture capitalists after patent disputes .

Competitors have also worked on self-balancing vehicles (e.g. Toyota's Winglet or HUBO Labs Huboway ). The Saturn Flextreme concept car has storage space for two Segway scooters.

Traffic safety

Several safety reports have come to the conclusion that the safety risks and the potential for conflict with other road users are no greater than with other permitted small vehicles. Only a few Segway accidents have been reported since the product was launched. With more than 5 m / s², the braking deceleration exceeds the legal requirement of 3.5 m / s². In the 100-page final report "Segway in public traffic", which the Technical University of Kaiserslautern published on behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), Hartmut Topp wrote in 2006: "The risk of accidents and the danger of falls appear to be lower with a Segway compared to a bicycle . "

Group of Segway PT riders with bicycle helmets (in Washington, DC, USA; 2006)

There is a risk of accidents if a wheel loses grip (e.g. on black ice) or collides with obstacles (deep potholes, high curbs or walls).

The only crash tests to date were carried out by the accident research of the insurers (UDV). This investigation showed that the Segway - at least at the tested speed of 15 km / h - poses a danger to pedestrians. This is not least due to the large overall mass. This is why the UDV has come to the conclusion that the Segway should only travel at a maximum of 6 km / h in pedestrian zones or on sidewalks. But even Segway drivers themselves expose themselves to a risk that should not be underestimated at speeds of around 15 km / h, both in a collision with a pedestrian and in a collision with a vehicle. The UDV therefore recommends wearing bicycle helmets . The driving tests, however, showed that the Segway is in principle unproblematic in its handling. However, there are situations such as sudden evasive action and braking that can only be mastered with special, extensive training.

Legal and licensing issues

Segway prohibition sign in Schleswig-Holstein

Due to the many novelty features of the Segway PT (two-wheeled but multi-lane motor vehicle, no mechanical brake, no seat, electronically controlled steering and stability), it is usually not possible to obtain its approval under traffic law based on conventional regulations. In order to do justice to the vehicle characteristics and to enable operation, the legislature in the USA created its own vehicle class (EPAMD = Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device).

The EU Commission has rejected a corresponding Europe-wide regulation on the grounds that it is not a road vehicle and therefore does not belong to the regulation area of ​​the EU . This is in contradiction to EU Directive 2002/24 / EU, according to which all electric vehicles with more than 0.25 kW power are considered motor vehicles and are subject to the EU type approval procedure.

Situation in Germany

Segway with insurance number and rear light in Nuremberg

Since June 15, 2019 Segway i2 (SE) is a miniature electric vehicle after the miniature electric vehicles Regulation (eKFV). It can therefore be used from 14 years of age and without a helmet and without a driver's license or other proof of competence in road traffic. An insurance license plate or a valid insurance sticker is required.

The Segway models XT, x2 and Golf (SE) are wider than 70 cm and are therefore not a small electric vehicle. These models with already granted special / individual approval as well as all wheelchairs based on the Segway PT retain the tinny moped insurance number and can only be used from the age of 15 and with a moped test certificate .

Historical development

Driving a Segway on public property was initially prohibited because there was no traffic permit . This ran counter to the federal government's goals of promoting (electric) mobility, innovation and environmental protection. The first Segway permits were issued in Hamburg in June 2006 for city tours and from April 2007 in Saarland for private Segway owners. Gradually, other federal states followed and allowed local use with different and sometimes contradicting exemptions. In December 2007 the Federal Council asked the federal government to come up with a nationwide regulation.

Since July 25, 2009, the “Ordinance on the Participation of Electronic Mobility Aids in Traffic” ( MobHV ) has allowed Segway use in Germany. As long as the type approval process has not yet been completed, the vehicles have been granted an individual operating permit after a technical individual test (braking effect, light, bell) . Anyone wishing to use them in traffic required at least one test certificate for driving mopeds . The MobHV was replaced by the Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance on June 15, 2019 .

In the greater Munich area, Segway PTs have been banned from buses, trams and underground trains of the Munich Transport and Tariff Association ( MVV ) since December 2009 .

Situation in Austria

In April 2004, the company, represented by its European Director Regulatory Affairs, Europe, Nicola Dallatana, submitted a written request to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) and presented the vehicle in a personal interview Segway. In June 2004 the responsible employee of the ministry, Ingrid Holzerbauer-Högler, replied in writing with the subject “Segway; legal qualification ", with the result that this vehicle is based on § 2 Paragraph 1 Z 22 lit. d of the Road Traffic Regulations in conjunction with Section 1 (2a) of the Motor Vehicle Act is to be qualified as a bicycle. "

In Austria, bicycles, and thus also electric bicycles , are not subject to motor vehicle law according to Section 1, Paragraph 2a of the KFG; they are therefore neither subject to approval nor do they require an operating license. In contrast, the equipment regulations for bicycles apply, i.e. the Austrian Bicycle Ordinance . Segways must therefore be equipped with acoustic equipment (bell, horn or the like), reflective devices, and at night or when the lighting conditions require, with headlights and rear lights for use on roads with public traffic.

Since a bicycle is a vehicle, a Segway must also be used on the roadway on public roads ( § 2 Paragraph 1 Z 2 StVO), sidewalks and sidewalks may only be used to cross them in the designated places ( § 8 para. 4 StVO). Otherwise, the bicycle law provisions of the StVO apply as for multi-lane bicycles , in particular according to which, if there are bicycle facilities, these can be used with models up to 80 cm wide (Section 68 "Behavior of cyclists"). Since the models x2 ( Adventure , Turf and Golf ) are wider than 80 cm according to the manufacturer, cycling facilities may not be used with them and they may only be driven on the (general) road.

As with any bicycle, residential streets may be used against the one-way ( Section 76b StVO), other one-way streets against the prescribed direction of travel ( Section 7 (5)) and pedestrian zones ( Section 76a StVO), however, only with exceptions for bicycle traffic. Since a "protective path is a part of the roadway marked by uniform longitudinal strips (so-called 'zebra crossing') and intended for pedestrians to cross the lane" ( Section 2 (1) Z 12 StVO), such a path may be used to cross the lane as with any other Also vehicles that cannot be used with the Segway.

In addition, as for every other bicycle, the age limits according to § 65 StVO "Use of bicycles" apply . Accordingly, a Segway can be ridden from 12 years of age, and from 10 years of age if a bicycle license is acquired.

Anyone pushing a bicycle is not considered a cyclist according to Section 65 (1) StVO. According to legal doctrine and case law, the provisions for pedestrians must be applied in this case and, in particular, the bicycle must be pushed on the sidewalk / sidewalk. This also applies to pushing a Segway if it has to be pushed because of an empty battery or a technical defect.

Situation in the rest of Europe

Most European countries now allow or tolerate the use of the Segway PT. The Segway PT is also officially endorsed in Italy , France , Spain , Greece , the Czech Republic , Hungary , the Netherlands , Belgium , Portugal , Switzerland and the Baltic countries - with the exception of some cities, such as the center of Prague , where Segway riding has been banned since 2016.

Practical use and special applications

In its main use, urban local transport (e.g. for errands and commuters), the Segway PT has not established itself as a means of mass transport. It was better able to establish itself in a number of niche markets, such as B .:

Patrol vehicle
Police departments, security companies and guard services use the Segway PT as a patrol vehicle. They are also used by emergency services, especially at major events.
Disabled vehicle
Segway PTs can be used with physical limitations e.g. B. be used by the initial stages of multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease .
Golf Kart
The special model "x2 Golf" moves the golfer and his equipment over the golf course with lawn-friendly low-pressure tires.
Fun sport
Segway polo has established itself as a Segway team sport . Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was a prominent player on the Silicon Valley Aftershocks team. The "Woz challenge cup", the World Championship in Segway polo, was played in Cologne in 2009 and on the Caribbean island of Barbados in 2010.
Robotic platform
The Segway RMP is used as the basis for autonomous mobile robots .
City tours
In some cities the Segway PT is used for touristic city tours. In Germany, a special permit may be required for this in accordance with the admission regulations.
company excursion
Segway courses are used for team development and motivation on company outings.

Trivia

  • In the American comedy The Department Store Cop , security personnel use Segways to get around a shopping mall.
  • In the browser game Happy Wheels developed by Jim Bonaci, you can slip into the role of the Segway Guy , ride a Segway with him and do tasks.
  • A fall of George W. Bush was reported worldwide in 2003 ; Bush wasn't hurt.

Similar vehicles

  • E-Board also called "Swagway", "Mini-Segway".

literature

Web links

Commons : Segways  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John Schwartz: On the Pavement, A New Contender. In: The New York Times. January 23, 2003, p. 1. "Segway" is a registered trademark of Segway Inc.
  2. ↑ Rheinische Post dated June 24, 2020: Segway ceases production of electric two-wheelers , accessed on June 25, 2020
  3. ↑ spiegel.de: Standing ko
  4. ↑ The Role of the Segway PT in Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency (PDF; 76 kB).
  5. ↑ Climate protection: German cars have to slim down. Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) eV, archived from the original on May 9, 2008 ; Retrieved September 27, 2010 .
  6. ↑ Segway FAQ. General Segway PT Questions. Retrieved September 27, 2010 (English).
  7. ↑ Lecture by Dean Kamen at the TED conference in February 2002 (video, English)
  8. ↑ Sales development based on the serial numbers (English) ( Memento of the original from October 11, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / social.segway.com
  9. ↑ Segway in the crash test
  10. ↑ Homepage of the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) development project ( Memento of the original from April 9, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.segway.com
  11. ↑ Fatal scooter accident: Segway boss falls down a cliff. SPIEGEL online, September 27, 2010, accessed on September 27, 2010 .
  12. ↑ Chinese start-up takes over scooter manufacturer Segway orf.at, April 15, 2015. Accessed May 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ Segway gets siblings on neuedings.com, August 2, 2008, accessed April 7, 2009.
  14. ↑ Press release on the concept study of the Saturn Flextreme electric car ( memento of the original from May 17, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.segway.com
  15. ↑ Brief report on the Segway pilot project in public transport. (PDF 320 kB) Saarbrücken, January 2006.
  16. ↑ Investigation of the safety properties of the Segway by accident research by the insurers
  17. ↑ Official Journal of the European Union 2004 / C 11 E / 231 (PDF; 83 kB).
  18. ↑ EU Directive 2002/24 / EU (PDF; 258 kB).
  19. ↑ § 3 eKFV
  20. ↑ § 2 paragraph 1 no. 2 eKFV
  21. ↑ § 1 para. 1 no. 4 eKFV
  22. ↑ Federal Council printed matter 844/07 (PDF; 20 kB) of December 20, 2007.
  23. ^ Ordinance on the participation of electronic mobility aids in traffic.
  24. ↑ § 2 MobHV and § 21 StVZO
  25. ↑ § 3 MobHV
  26. ↑ Federal Law Gazette Part 1, No. 21 of June 14, 2019 Bundesanzeiger Verlag GmbH, accessed on June 14, 2019
  27. ↑ D. Hutter: New MVV timetable - more expensive and more complicated. (No longer available online.) Sueddeutsche.de GmbH, December 9, 2009, archived from the original on March 16, 2010 ; accessed on September 27, 2010 : “Segways, for example, will be banned on buses and trains in the future.” Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sueddeutsche.de
  28. ↑ Letter from the BMVIT dated June 29, 2004: Segway; legal qualification. (PDF; 447 kB). Retrieved July 28, 2010. Published on Thomas Knauf's private website: Our experience with the Segway Human Transporter.
  29. ↑ § 1 para. 2a KFG: “Not as motor vehicles, but as bicycles within the meaning of the StVO 1960 are also electrically powered bicycles with 1. a maximum permissible power of no more than 600 watts and 2. a design speed of no more than 25 km /H."
  30. ↑ Segway website: Explore Models. ( Memento of the original from July 30, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved July 28, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.segway.com
  31. ↑ Federal Roads Office FEDRO: Regulations on the approval and operation of motorcycles, slow e-bikes, e-scooters and electric rickshaws (as of Feb. 1, 2019) . ( admin.ch [PDF; accessed on November 2, 2019]).
  32. ↑ https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/more-than-half-of-segway-rental-sites-in-prague-close-doors-since-ban-introduced , visited August 31, 2019 .
  33. ↑ Why Segways? Website of 144 Notruf Niederösterreich , accessed on November 8, 2010.
  34. ↑ The mobile standing organizations ( Memento of the original from October 30, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in Germany as well as DRAFT ( Memento of the original of August 27, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in the USA support people with restricted mobility in using the Segway PT. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nahmmobil.de @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.draft.org
  35. ^ Segway Robotic Mobility Platform. (No longer available online.) December 29, 2004, archived from the original on May 21, 2011 ; accessed on September 27, 2010 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nosc.mil
  36. ↑ Anemi Wick: Discover Berlin with the magic wheel. In: Morgenpost Online. July 24, 2008, accessed September 20, 2010 .
  37. ↑ dpa / lni: On the electric scooter through Hanover's old town. In: Abendblatt. May 26, 2010, accessed January 9, 2011 .
  38. ↑ [1]