Make: Online : Spotted on the Playa - Self-balancing skateboard

Spotted on the Playa - Self-balancing skateboard

Unknown
Brady (from O'Reilly) spotted this rad Self-balancing skateboard in the desert during Burning Man, he writes "This was the coolest piece of personal transport that I saw on the playa...It was very easy to ride on. Lots of fun. I met the creator, Justin, on the playa. He calls it an emanual. He promised to post plans in a vague future timeframe. A little googling turned up this video - Link. Here's his site - Link.

Related:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: jovino on September 12, 2006 at 8:36 PM

I hung out and chatted with him as well. He informed me that there are no gyroscopes in it, but basic tilt sensors. Stepping on it, it takes a moment to balance and regulate. Riding it took a little getting used to. This guy is a genius! And super nice to boot.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: SonicReducer on September 13, 2006 at 12:28 AM

what about emanual?

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=emanual

Reply to this comment

Posted by: SonicReducer on September 13, 2006 at 12:29 AM

what about emanual?

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=emanual

Reply to this comment

Posted by: SonicReducer on September 13, 2006 at 12:33 AM

nevermind. i didn't read it before posting. the pic is different from the emanual.

also, sorry about the double posting. my connection sometimes times out and the post gets through, but usually it doesn't so i reload the page

Reply to this comment

Posted by: justin_le on September 13, 2006 at 9:28 AM

Hey, thanks to whoever put this up. Unlike the Emanual, this board _does_ use a MEMS rate gyro and tilt sensor in order to be more robust in harsh environments where the distance sensors can fail. With the large hub wheels and wider wheel base it ended up being significantly easier to ride as well.

I'm working on a thorough project description for this but I lost my camera shortly before burning man, and as a result I don't have any footage of the board in action. If somebody reading this post has photos or video clips of it being riden on the playa then please contact me at: justinle@interchange.ubc.ca
That would make the webpage much more interesting.

Thanks, -Justin

Reply to this comment

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!

Check out all of the episodes of Make: television

Connect with MAKE

	MAKE on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
	MAKE on Twitter Follow our MAKE tweets!
	MAKE on Flickr Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!

make_tips on Twitter

MAKE's RSS feed is here.
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Add MAKE on FriendFeed

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

MAKE wins Treehugger Best of Green Award

Make: Online authors!

Gareth Branwyn, Chris Connors (guest author), Collin Cunningham, Marc de Vinck, Peter Horvath (intern), Kip Kay, Goli Mohammadi, John Park, Sean Ragan, Becky Stern, Phillip Torrone

Suggest a Site!

Current Podcast

How-To Tuesday: Arduino 101 & the PING))) ultrasonic sensor The PING))) ultrasonic sensor is a really easy way to measure distance with a micro-controller. All you have to do is hook up 3 wires and upload some code. These sensors are great for robots, alarm systems, or any... More...