Monday, December 3, 2001

Hardware

Kamen finally unveils his 'human transport' invention

By Alexander Soule

After teasing the world for months with his promise of a revolutionary new invention, New Hampshire inventor Dean Kamen displayed the result of his efforts - a remarkable two-wheeled chariot that can run all day on a single battery charge.

The Segway Human Transport consists of a small platform suspended between two wheels about a foot in diameter each, with an elongated handlebar rising up to waist-level.

By standing on the platform, gripping the handlebar and simply leaning, a rider can propel the transport in any direction - seemingly without danger of toppling over.

The contraption accelerates, brakes, and maintains its balance through an onboard computer that senses a rider's center of gravity and relays instructions to gyroscopes.

Demonstrating the device on ABC's "Good Morning America," Kamen showed off an extremely agile machine, spinning it quickly after ascending halfway up a small hill, then turning on a dime again and rolling up over the rise.

Kamen showed new users riding through water, rocking back and forth, and colliding with objects without losing their balance.

The computer can be programmed to maintain a top speed of up to 17 mph. The mechanism weighs about 65 pounds.

Kamen said that corporate partners get the first crack at purchasing the Segway; the include the United States Postal Service, General Electric and Amazon.com.

He said that consumers might be able to purchase the machines by the end of 2002, probably for a price of at least $3,000.

Deka Research and Development, headed by Kamen and based in Manchester, N.H., will control production of the machine.

Kamen predicts that the Segway will find a ready market in corporate and factory settings as well as among urban residents.