Segways aren't all that complicated.

A spoof of Rockwell Automation's infamous video. Despite the technobabble, we hope you'll see that building a Segway-like scooter actually isn't that complicated. In fact, we built a simple, lightweight version from scratch for less than $1,000 this summer. It may not have all the trimmings or redundant safety features of the real thing, but it is certainly functional and looks good, too.

Our build team consists of about 15 students: a few MIT undergrads and grads, but mostly high school students from Boston-area FIRST Robotics teams (FRC 97, 2043, and 2349) and The Education Cooperative.

We spent two Saturdays designing the base and then four weekends building and testing. Most components are inexpensive off-the-shelf parts. (The motors, for example, cost just $28 each.) The control code is currently less than 200 lines long, including wireless telemetry. Full documentation and the bill of materials is available on our website (see below).

More info: http://web.mit.edu/first/segway

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• DIY
• segway
• homemade
• FIRST
• MIT
• Edgerton
• Center
• engineering
• Rockwell
• Automation
• retro
• encabulator
• nofer
• trunnion

[afferch]

Yes the drawn reciprocating dingle arm is not used on the latest models. It caused too much cross dressing constipulation.

[drum4tacos]

i love engineering humor. the "retro/turbo encabulator" joke has been going around since the mid-40s.

[brandonmleask]

I JUST CANT BELIEVE THAT HALF YOU HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS A SPOOF... BY THE WAY....A SPOOF IS A HUMOROUS VERSION OF A MOVIE, THEATRE PLAY, SONG, ETC.... ETC...OH, AND ETC MEANS...EH, NEVERMIND..

[dmoneytuttle]

It's all greek to me.

[ceedubb72]

Can't... Stop... Laughing...

[thesharkof98]

sounds like star trek!

[Quadcoaster]

Keep on effin around and you are gonna Put Your Eye Out !!

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

I was lost 20 seconds into this video listening to the guy so I shut it off.

[DownhillAllTheWay]

Frasmetorical! Absolutely scrimbobulating!

[delmarian]

needs a flux capacitor then it can go 75mph

[onetoughtechie]

the purple diabungy switch fluctuator is all frigged up. check the unnah cunnah punnah!

[bangbuddy]

damnit, use common man language. no one could make out what the hell you are talking.