It wasn’t that long ago that inventor Dean Kamen thought his two-wheeled personal transportation device, the Segway, would transform transportation.  Unfortunately, the Segway has become synonymous with technology failure.  Kamen imagined a future filled people zipping about on a Segway PT scooter to run errands and travel to work.

That vision hasn’t quite come to fruition and it’s pretty infrequent that you see someone using a Segway. They’re still around and have recently observed their 10th anniversary. So while they may be classified as a tech failure, they’re still alive and kicking.

How do they work though? Below we’ll take a look at the tech powering the Segway.

Powering the Segway

Each Segway PT is powered by electric motors that are, in turn, fueled by phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries. Segway owners may charge these batteries by plugging their Segways into common household electrical sockets. The unit doesn’t fall over due to its two computers loaded with proprietary software, pair of tilt sensors, and five gyroscopic sensors.

Making the Segway Move

The sensors register if the user shifts their body weight to change the direction and speed of movement. In other words, when you wish to go forward at a quicker pace, you would pull the handlebars closer to your body and lean forward slightly. The Segway’s present top speed is 12.5 mph and is best suited for areas with lots of wide, flat sidewalk space.

Lowered Expectations

The device never did live up to its hype. Many technology experts predicted the Segway PT would be a bigger deal than the Internet. As a result, when company officials unveiled the first Segway scooter in December of 2001 in Manhattan, expectations soared.

In the 10 years since its release, the Segway hasn’t totally failed, but its strange appearance and goofy riding style has made it nearly impossible to achieve its expected level of success.