What did you do on Black Friday? If you're like me, you
drove home from Thanksgiving and avoided leaving the house due to the yearly
sales armageddon. Instead, any and all shopping was done from my recliner with
my tablet.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing gifts of the year is the
e-scooter. Or electric hoverboard. Or mini Segway. Is there a consensus on what
to call these things yet?
It's this...(video plays on YouTube)

That is perhaps the first advertisement for this product
that appeared in China in 2014. Due to China's lax copyright and trade
protection enforcement, these self-balancing scooters were rapidly copycatted
and have spread to the States. A product that was selling in the U.S. for
$600-plus just six months ago can now be purchased this holiday for less than
$300.
Prepare to see these everywhere because they seem insanely
fun. Pro football players are using
them to save their legs precious steps. Celebrities have been posting them
on social media for over a year (and big jerk Chris Brown is actually awesome on his).
Overall, the engineering
behind these is rather simple. It starts with a two-component steel frame
assembled with a short central axis; many scooters can accommodate loads up to
350 lb. Electric motors are integrated into the wheels of the scooter, as are
tilt sensors. When the user begins to lean forward the tilt sensors send this
input to a speed controller, gyroscope and PLC. The scooter accelerates to
catch up with the user's center of gravity. Turning is controlled by pressure
or infrared sensors that determine when the user has their feet tilted in
opposite ways.
The device also contains a battery pack, typically a 36V
4400mAH, as well as all needed circuits and interfaces. Some balance scooters
include a remote for on/off, locking and mode toggle. LED lighting and
Bluetooth speakers are other options. A plastic case furnishes the finished
look and protects internal components. These scooters top out around 6 mph, so
basically the same speed of a brisk walk anyway. Terrain is undoubtedly the
primary challenge for these scooters. They typically have 6.5 inch wheel
diameters, so smooth or near-smooth surfaces are always needed. Some competing
models, such as the FREEFOOT, has a top speed of 10 mph and 10 inch wheels,
making it much more useful.
All signs point to balance scooters being a fad, but they're
everywhere right now. And never has a fad enabled personal mobility on this
scale (if you're an adult who wore Heely's, it's time to reevaluate some other
things). Even if the balance scooter is a dead product in two or three years,
it is providing a glimpse at how personal mobility is becoming mechanized and
interconnected. Surely another company and product will build on this niche of
wearable technology in years to come.
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