Will a Segway work on a Treadmill?
Discussion
Well, can they? I'm in the pub, this topic has just come up, don't ask why...
I think yes. If you set the speed on the treadmill to a steady amount, and are able to match the speed of the Segway, it should work. Shouldn't it?
My friend thinks it won't, and that it'll just wobble and fall over.
Discuss. Show your working.
I think yes. If you set the speed on the treadmill to a steady amount, and are able to match the speed of the Segway, it should work. Shouldn't it?
My friend thinks it won't, and that it'll just wobble and fall over.
Discuss. Show your working.
The thing balances itself by accelerating and decelerating the wheels to keep them under the centre of gravity, so as long as the treadmill isn't too free running or going faster than the segway can manage it should be able to balance itself.
If the segway couldn't stand up on the treadmill, chances are you couldn't either. It balances itself by keeping its wheels under the COG, whereas you balance by moving your COG so it's over your feet, but I would expect the forces on the floor to be similar either way.
If the segway couldn't stand up on the treadmill, chances are you couldn't either. It balances itself by keeping its wheels under the COG, whereas you balance by moving your COG so it's over your feet, but I would expect the forces on the floor to be similar either way.
Robb F said:
Because it can only sense wheel speed not ground speed.
You lean forward, it makes the wheels turn. So if the treadmill will moving at a constant speed the person would have to lean at the right angle constantly to match the treadmill.
But the way a segway works on solid ground is to "catch" you before you fall. I.e. you lean forward so your Centre Of Gravity is in front of the machine, so it moves the base. This means that the net direction of the combined forces of gravity and propulsion means your CoG is "in line" with the wheels, and they bear your weight.You lean forward, it makes the wheels turn. So if the treadmill will moving at a constant speed the person would have to lean at the right angle constantly to match the treadmill.
On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
mrmr96 said:
But the way a segway works on solid ground is to "catch" you before you fall. I.e. you lean forward so your Centre Of Gravity is in front of the machine, so it moves the base. This means that the net direction of the combined forces of gravity and propulsion means your CoG is "in line" with the wheels, and they bear your weight.
On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
I understand your logic, but it is not what physically happens. The video above proves that.On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
It doesn't matter if the ground beneath the wheels is moving or not, the segway will behave the same.
Imagine the tread mill was as big as the eye could see in any direction. If moving at a constant speed, you would not know the floor was moving, and you would be able to drive a segway as normal.
Its exactly the same with the fact the earth is spinning with you on it, you just happen to be moving at the same speed.
mrmr96 said:
But the way a segway works on solid ground is to "catch" you before you fall. I.e. you lean forward so your Centre Of Gravity is in front of the machine, so it moves the base. This means that the net direction of the combined forces of gravity and propulsion means your CoG is "in line" with the wheels, and they bear your weight.
On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
Erm... The chap 4 posts up showed one working on a treadmill?On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
Robb F said:
mrmr96 said:
But the way a segway works on solid ground is to "catch" you before you fall. I.e. you lean forward so your Centre Of Gravity is in front of the machine, so it moves the base. This means that the net direction of the combined forces of gravity and propulsion means your CoG is "in line" with the wheels, and they bear your weight.
On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
I understand your logic, but it is not what physically happens. The video above proves that.On a treadmill this can't happen, so your CoG always has to be above the wheels, as you're not moving in space.
The way to overcome this is to lean the segway forward (so it's tilt switches are activated) but you're not actually tilting your body, because you have to keep your CoG static.
Hope that makes sense?
It doesn't matter if the ground beneath the wheels is moving or not, the segway will behave the same.
Imagine the tread mill was as big as the eye could see in any direction. If moving at a constant speed, you would not know the floor was moving, and you would be able to drive a segway as normal.
Its exactly the same with the fact the earth is spinning with you on it, you just happen to be moving at the same speed.
So you have to trick the segway into thinking you're leaning forward, by leaning the segway but not your body.
(same thing as I said above.)
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