Steampunk Segway: the Legway

Bart sends us this Instructable for a Legway: "A self balancing, human powered, steampunk styled, Segway. All you need is a brave self balancing human. This is the ultimate green vehicle for all you eco conscious steampunkers."

Steampunk Segway ( Legway ) (Thanks, Bart!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: Funny • Gadgets • Happy Mutants • maker • Steampunk

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Anonymous

This would be even more awesome if the pedals actually powered a gyroscope stabilizing the legway.. But still – great idea!
Anonymous

I would LOVE to see somebody ride this.
Anonymous

This just a leaked photo of a prototype PUMA.
Anonymous

As a member of the self-balancing humans (a unicycler), I can’t quite work out how you would turn on this thing without rocking it to the side. Too many wheels for my liking anyway :)
kkretsch

Please, a video of somebody riding this in real. I can’t believe its possible.
Anonymous

It’s Steampunk…it’s not supposed to have a useful function.
JJR1971

@#18 (for #6)

Quite agree. The Evil Big Box Store Which Shall Not Be Named sells good pedal tricycles on their website and sometimes in their stores, and I’ve considered buying one myself, because it has a basket on the back for hauling stuff around. I’ve seen a few older folks toodling around on them around town, before, too. If I lost use of my car and couldn’t immediately replace it, I’d be using one of those as a stop-gap measure to get around and do grocery shopping, etc.
Anonymous

The key design point is the gearing at the peddle hubs; as the peddle is tilted it drives the wheel the opposite way, making an overtilt forwards or backwards auto-correcting.
ill lich

Good thing they put the handlebars on there, you know. . . for steering (otherwise how would you steer it?)
Bugs

It’s basically a pair of “fun wheels” with a handlebar. I’ve seen kids learn to ride fun wheels in half an hour, so I’m pretty sure this would be simplicity itself to ride. Adults usually take longer to learn because we’re more scared of falling.

@10 is right though, they’re almost impossible to steer.
http://www.firetoys.co.uk/juggling/pedal_go_fun_wheels.html
trippcook

#1 — you’re right, it SHOULD be steam powered. Click here for what one should REALLY look like.

http://trippcook.deviantart.com/art/STEAMgway-119576807

(BTW, do a Steampunk artist a favor and consider purchasing a print, won’t you? … if you don’t like this one, my DA gallery is full of Steampunk artwork)

#18 — “Bg Bx Str Whch Shll Nt B Nmd?” Rlly? Cn strt rfrrng t y s “Dchy Prtnts Cmmntr Wh Shll Nt B Nmd?” h, wt, dn’t nd prmssn, s jst wll.
trippcook

Meant #24 in his comment to #18. #18, you are neither douchy (douchey?) nor pretentious. You actually seem pretty cool, #18. a/s/l?
wpncyril

@ anybody here: ever considered, like, walking?? ;)
freshacconci

#13: wet blanket.
Anonymous

video at

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/diy-steampunk-segway-the-legway/16928234
forgeweld

I don’t think the action video will be out real soon with the current plywood construction. It’s a very well done conceptual piece, not a vehicle.
Jake von Slatt

OMG! This will revolutionized urban transportation! It’s the most amazing, world changing invention since the advent of the personal automobile.

I still haven’t forgiven Dean Kamen.
Takuan

take
http://www.yugatech.com/blog/toys-gadgets/toyota-winglet-is-a-mini-segway/
and make self powered by pumping of calf muscles?
xaxa

@6: Perhaps try a tricycle, or recumbent tricycle. They’re not as common as bicycles, because they aren’t so manoeuvrable, but depending where you’re riding it might be just fine. And a talking point.

Alternatively, have another go on a bicycle. The best way to learn is to remove the pedals and cranks, and lower the saddle so you can put your feet flat on the ground. Then use the bike like a scooter, and go round a playground/car park. That gets you used to balancing the bike, then you can try steering, then braking. Once that’s sorted, put the pedals back on.
(Round here you can get bikes for tiny kids without pedals, so they can learn to balance.)
franko

there isn’t video of this in action? come on, this is the internets… we demand video!
: )
Anonymous

From the creator:

It is primarily an art piece, but it is functional and has been ridden several times. A video will be out as soon as I can find someone to hold the camera.

I haven’t really figured out how to turn it yet. I jiggle/skidded it a few times for a little turn, but usually get scared and hop off. The falls are very uneventful. You can easily step off at any time. It never tries to shoot out from under you like a skateboard might. It’s like loosing your balance while standing on a shoe box….you just step off.
Anonymous

Wow! Thanks for the vid
ill lich

Well, riding a unicycle (the original “self-balancing” vehicle) isn’t really that difficult. However looking at this thing I’m not so sure I could keep it stable and in motion– those pedals look really awkward. (Unicycles are a lot more work than bicycles: they’re not efficient and you can’t coast, in fact long downhills are more work than simply traveling on a flat surface).

That said, this is a pretty good visual gag and nicely executed piece of craft/art.
Draconum

If it were REALLY steampunk, wouldn’t it be steam-powered, hm?

Kidding aside, this is awesome. I’d love to try it out, but I am betting I’d probably have a hard time keeping my balance.
lecti

I see, so this is kind of like a unicycle, except that it has two wheels, so it’s a bicycle…ow, my head hurts.
eustace

It’s an unusual configuration of bicycle. And it looks like loads of fun to build. Maybe not so much fun to ride; short-throw pedals equals jerky motion, in my experience.
Gilbert Wham

But, if those gears are functional, is it really Steampunk?
Avram / Moderator

The kickstand is a nice touch.
Anonymous

i would faceplant in 2 seconds on that thing
Mark Temporis

I assume it doesn’t work with non self-balancing humans.

I’ve decided I hate driving, but have a ten-mile commute to work, and my balance is too poor for a bicycle or moped — I’ve tried to learn three or four times in my life, and the feeling of constantly falling forward terrifies me.