The Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is a unique self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device. Using gyroscopes and tilt sensors, the Segway HT is able to emulate human balance. Lean forward, and you move forward. Lean back, and you move back. Straighten up, and you stop.
Operation is natural and intuitive. In addition to being fun to ride, the Segway PT is environmentally friendly with zero emissions and the ability to alleviate traffic and parking problems. The Segway PT does it all by harnessing some of the most advanced, thoroughly tested technology ever created.
When inventor Dean Kamen unveiled the SegwayTM Personal Transporter (HT) on ABC's Good Morning America, he described the machine as the world's first self-balancing human transporter. To move forward or backward on the Segway PT, the rider just leans slightly forward or backward. To turn left or right, the rider simply turns the steering grip left or right.
This balancing act is the most amazing feature of the Segway and the key to its operation. To understand how this system works, it helps to consider Kamen's model for the device - the human body. If you stand up and lean forward to the point at which you are out of balance, you probably won't fall. Your brain knows you are out of balance because fluid in your inner ear shifts, and it triggers you to put your leg forward and stop the fall. If you keep leaning forward, your brain will keep putting your legs forward to keep you upright. Instead of falling, you walk forward, one step at a time.
The Segway PT acts in a similar fashion except with wheels instead of legs, a motor instead of muscles, microprocessors instead of a brain, and tilt sensors instead of an inner-ear balancing system. Like your brain, the Segway knows when you are leaning forward. To maintain balance, it turns the wheels at just the right speed so that you move forward instead of falling down.
