Check out this vehicle

[Just thinking]

I don't know whether to laugh or what ...

But I'll bet there are applications down the road from something like this (http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=112005&newsChannel=lifestyleMolt).

[madurobob]

A bit late to the segway market, aren't they?

[Gate2501]

For some reason the first thing that came to mind was an army of morbidly obese individuals shopping on these at Walmart. They would need to make them more sturdy, obviously.

[Careyp74]

interesting, how does it actually move? It doesn't act like a wheel, it goes side to side and forwards/backwards

[madurobob]

interesting, how does it actually move? It doesn't act like a wheel, it goes side to side and forwards/backwards

I'm guessing two or three small skateboard-sized wheels that can turn independently of each other. Still, a neat trick.

[Just thinking]

Perhaps next they'll install a long shaft you rest your back on that supports a helicopter blade spinning overhead.

Away you go.

[Beanbag]

Once again, geek scientists invent the DORKMOBILE.

Beanbag

[Eddie Dane]

Scientists need to talk to marketing people before they build stuff.
And the question they should ask is: 'Will people think this thing will get them laid?'

Outside the MIT campus, that is.

[jasonpatterson]

interesting, how does it actually move? It doesn't act like a wheel, it goes side to side and forwards/backwards

I'm thinking it's got a single ball in a socket on which it rides and motors that drive that ball along two axes. Just a guess, but it doesn't look like there's room for multiple wheels under there and they call it a unicycle.

I agree that it is terribly dorky looking though. Who is intended to ride these things? It's not like they go significantly faster than your feet can carry you, and when you get to a flight of stairs, you have to carry the darned thing up them. It's just dumb, though a neat kind of dumb. A self stabilizing unicycle is cool, especially one that can carry such a big load, but I'm pretty sure I've seen other, similar designs (load bearing monopods, that is) elsewhere.

[Tormac]

. . . It's not like they go significantly faster than your feet can carry you, and when you get to a flight of stairs, you have to carry the darned thing up them. It's just dumb, though a neat kind of dumb. . . .

I'm guessing that the kind of person who would rather ride a motorized unicycle rather than walk down an office hallway is definatly the kind of person who takes the elevator to the second floor.

[jasonpatterson]

I'm guessing that the kind of person who would rather ride a motorized unicycle rather than walk down an office hallway is definatly the kind of person who takes the elevator to the second floor.

Indeed, but in the video they were talking about it revolutionizing indoor transportation or some such. I was unaware that indoor transportation was in need of a revolution, but I guess you learn something new every day.

[Aitch]

This looks fun and marginally safer:
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[ellindsey]

interesting, how does it actually move? It doesn't act like a wheel, it goes side to side and forwards/backwards

See here (http://world.honda.com/news/2009/c090924New-Personal-Mobility-Device/).

Basically it's got one big wheel, whose rim is made up of lots of little sideways wheels in series. The big wheel turns to make it go forwards and backwards, and all the little wheels turn to make it go sideways.

[shandyjan]

Looks cool in place of a wheelchair for short term use...like when youve had an op or break.

[VespaGuy]

For some reason the first thing that came to mind was an army of morbidly obese individuals shopping on these at Walmart. They would need to make them more sturdy, obviously.

Pixar's Wall-E looks more and more accurate every day.

[Elf Grinder 3000]

Kind of stupid. Probably costs around $2000