Lego Mindstorms NXTway-G much cooler than Segway

Since kits became available last year, there certainly hasn't been a shortage of clever robots over at the Lego Mindstorms NXT community, but Roy Watanabe's NXTway-G caught our collective eye. He took direct inspiration from similar self-balancing bots, the Legway and NXTway (basically NXT brick-controlled mini-Segways), but took it to the next level by using a gyroscopic sensor -- and from the looks of the video, it's a smooth operator. NXTway-G can stand in place, climb a slope, and take a modest shove. We say modest because of its one downfall -- if knocked flat, it'll find itself in one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up" situations -- and nobody wants a whiny bot on their hands.

Read - Mindstorms NXTlog
Read - NXTway-G in action

[Paul @ Mar 13th 2007 12:45PM]

I, for one, welcome our self balancing robotic overlords!

[Wellard @ Mar 13th 2007 1:14PM]

In Soviet Russia, robot balance you.

[Jeff Foster @ Mar 13th 2007 2:02PM]

you guys are apparently serious segway haters.

get over it.

[Lee Gibson @ Mar 13th 2007 4:13PM]

Um, Jeff? Your persecution complex seems to be, you know, sticking out.

[Jeff @ Mar 13th 2007 5:19PM]

oh i wouldn't want to, um, stick out.

what does that even mean? everyone hates the segway but me?

[soldierboyadam @ Mar 13th 2007 2:15PM]

YAY..number 1. Anyhow, is that an eye toy on top so it can "see". Either way, it looks pretty sweet.

[Rich Thompson @ Mar 13th 2007 9:38PM]

I built one of these a while back, but it had some balancing problems:

http://www.robotthoughts.com/index.php/lego/archives/2007/01/03/lego-mindstorms-nxt-segway/

The best part about the robot is when it becomes still there is always a little bit of movement that makes the robot seem a little more "real".

[David @ Mar 14th 2007 4:53AM]

why wouldn't you hate segway? Its a transport device designed ot make fat people fatter.

[shkolnick @ Mar 14th 2007 7:22AM]

Ever since the first crazy guy decided to try and ride on the back of a wild horse, ALL forms of transportation have been about reducing effort. I don't see any mass uprisings against the automobile for making people fat...

[David @ Mar 14th 2007 7:27AM]

yeah but I can't walk 20 miles to work and back down the motorway can I? But I can walk around the shops no problems..

[Albert van Breemen @ Mar 14th 2007 11:03AM]

Hi,

Check this link (http://www.personalrobotics.nl/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=53) to see another "Segway" balancing Lego NXT robot (look at bottom of page). This one uses just the lego parts (balancing based on lightsensor).

Have fun!

Albert van Breemen
http://www.personalrobotics.nl

[Doug @ Mar 14th 2007 5:53PM]

Most folks drive their SUV less than 5 miles to get to work. The segway is just another electric car which you want to kill.

Let's see where is that quote: "American drivers take approximately 900 million car trips per day. The EPA estimates that half of all those trips are less than five miles (8 km) long and transport only one passenger. If just 10% of those trips in cars were replaced with an electric vehicle, that would save 6.2 million gallons (23.56 million liters) consumed per day and that would translate into a huge reduction in vehicle emissions."

Once, again, go ahead, turn off your computer after a day of surfing, waddle off your herman miller chair and walk the 58 steps to climb up into your SUV and laugh at the lazy people on tiny electric vehicles as you drive the long 0.9 miles home.

Nice.