The Working Principles of The Off Road Segway Explained

You have heard of them, maybe seen them at resorts and maybe had a try on one at courses offering a few hours fun on a tour gliding on a Segway. Very under appreciated these machines in the UK with our stayed attitude and “draconian laws”. Like its smaller relative the e-scooter Seaways are also not legal on roads in the UK. I really do think our government’s do not want us to have fun. Sorry, I digress back to the subject matter. So, the “Segway” a mysterious machine of magic under one’s feet. You feel like you are at one with nature gliding inched above the ground in silence. So, what is one and how does it work?

In my first blog I explained the origins of the Segway,  The rise and demise of segway the phoenix

Here I shall briefly explain the science behind this amazing machine. A combination of electronics micro-switches and power. Here we go:

Firstly, the workings of the Segway are based on the basic principle called “dynamic stability” (gyroscope) in old money.  Which is the “automatic self-balancing of the vehicle itself”. What happens, after gauging the body posture of the gliders position when you get on board, a built-in precision solid gyroscope, called the vehicles electronic brain calculates in real-time instructions through a sophisticated and high-speed central microprocessor. A powerful 36V-42Ah battery drives the dual motor to balance the Segway.

As a new invention the Segway, or personal transporter, off road scooter, call it what you like, is difficult to classify in the traditional way as this is a first of its kind. People and some government’s think the off-road scooter/segway should be a kind of double-wheeled unicycle, other people think it should be classed as a power stand-up Scooter, with its uni-axial! No each wheel is independent. So this is different from the traditional biaxial double wheeled scooter.

For official road regulations, this machine is called Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD) The vehicle is equipped with dual motors and wheels individually driven. As this machine is battery-operated it is not necessary to have a brake or throttle during operation. When the glider leans forward, the machine will go forward, when the glider is upright the machine will halt smoothly and quickly. This is actioned by a dynamic balance principle, as the body moves to the centre of gravity this cancels the machines brain making the machine remain balanced.

Just as the human body stands and leans forwards it can lose balance, but the body’s natural instinct will maintain balance. The dynamic stability replicates this automatically so in essence the machine uses the wheels as the same function of our feet, reproducing the high precision of the balance action of a human. Yep a truly amazing bit of kit these machines!

Interested please contact us https://www.offroadsegway.co.uk/contact/