By Rick Carlton | Updated Mar 24, 2022
galinast/iStock/GettyImages
The Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is an innovative electric two‑wheel vehicle created by Dean Kamen in Bedford, New Hampshire. Kamen’s vision was to replace walking with a more efficient urban mode of travel. The PT uses a patented gyroscopic system that lets the rider stand upright and move the vehicle by simply leaning.
Segway offers two main families: the I series for smooth urban surfaces and the X series for uneven terrain such as grass, dirt trails, and small rocks.
Each family has several variants. The I family includes the I2 (baseline), I2 Commuter (gear bag, comfort mats, high reflectivity), I2 Cargo (side cargo cases), and I2 Golf (low‑pressure tires and brackets for golf bags). The X family offers the X2 (baseline with wider track), X2 Adventure (reinforced frame), and X2 Turf (wider track, reinforced frame, low‑pressure tires).
The PT runs on a Saphion Lithium battery supplied by Valance Technology. Designed for industrial use, the battery prioritizes longevity, fast recharge, low maintenance, and safety.
Called the “world’s first self‑balancing human transporter,” the Segway relies on the rider’s forward and backward lean to drive, while left‑right lean steers the vehicle.
Each servo delivers 2 horsepower (1,500 watts). Two servos together power the vehicle, but a software‑controlled algorithm automatically tilts the PT backward once it approaches the maximum speed of 12.5 mph, preventing overspeeding.
