GTI Productivity Gains Using Segway -Press Release

[dave27]

http://www.segway.com/aboutus/press_releases/pr_090402.html

The evaluation, implemented at a Caterpillar plant, saved maintenance consultants close to an hour off each route (three per day) to inspect machine conditions and conduct vibration analysis.

"We have only begun to realize the benefits Segway HT's offer to manufacturers. This initial evaluation used the units conservatively. When the Segway HT is utilized by those who need to travel even more, such as technicians at larger plants, it will deliver even higher productivity gains," said Thomas Hoenig, President, GTI Spindle Technology, Inc.

GTI Spindle Technology purchased Segway Human Transporters, the first self-balancing, electric-powered personal transporters, to improve the efficiency of their consultants' daily work, both in conducting routine maintenance and critical repairs. In August the first evaluation of the devices was conducted by comparing the time maintenance routes took on foot versus riding the Segway HT. Riding a Segway HT produced a savings of 56 minutes per route for each consultant, indicating that in this application each unit purchased would pay for itself in about one year.

"The Segway HT's ability to operate in small areas and in close proximity to other people sets it apart from other transportation devices," said Chuck Stephens, Facilities Engineer, Caterpillar Fuel Systems in Pontiac, Ill. "It enabled materials to be easily transported to and from work areas quicker and with less strain than on foot. The Segway HT is a fantastic time and labor saving machine."



-dave

[dave27]

sorry charmed! duped the thread(just registered at the site - and didn't even look before posting)

-dave

[charmed]

A lovely story. Thanks Dave. It is me who should be sorry. Cheers and welcome aboard.

'twould be nice to know how many units, but there are some lucky consultants, to be sure.

We ought to try to find out if we can reach them and invite them to the board for some personal commentary.

[Seeker]

I was thinking about how the Segway could be used in various 'work situations' and had an idea :

Since the Segway has computers onboard...could they be used to 'program your trip' ( so if you went a certain route one time, the computers could be programmed to automatically steer you on that same route the next time)

Now I could see problems with such a system, because they would have to allow you to, at certain points, assume control of the Segway yourself, so that you could change the speed or direction for objects that were in your path today ( but weren't there yesterday). Once your evasive manoveur had been made, might there be some way for the computer to compare its position, to the closest point on the 'programmed path', and then to reassume the programmed path ?

I'm not exactly sure what the purpose this type of programming would be. But maybe someone else can think of something.

Seeker

[baantjer]

For one way rental use.

At the airport:
I take a Segway from the check-in desk and take it to the gate area, where I abandon it.
The Segway finds its way back to the check-in desk along a predetermined path.

[Seeker]

Good application, baantjer!

Now if they did use this kind of programming for Segway rentals, how would they do it exactly ? Would the Segway need to start from the identical position each time, in order that the path followed would be exactly the same, or would that not be necessary ?

I'm also wondering, for robotic applications...are there ways that you could use the self balancing ability of the Segway to do things that other robots couldn't do ?


Seeker

[Antagony]

quote:The evaluation, implemented at a Caterpillar plant, saved maintenance consultants close to an hour off each route (three per day) to inspect machine conditions and conduct vibration analysis.

"We have only begun to realize the benefits Segway HT's offer to manufacturers.

I dont want to rain on anybody's parade, but it seems clear to me that Segway will be able to find some good instances of how their machine will be labour saving. I am sure they are not going to mention all the instances where Segways are being tried and found not to be labour saving or where other types of transporters will be even more labour saving. Any company that invests in a new technology will want to justify their investment.

[n/a]

quote:Any company that invests in a new technology will want to justify their investment.

Surely u are not suggesting that a company that invests in Segways is going to falsify their results to justify the fact that they have purchased some Segways??? It is true that researching this sort of thing is not easy and a lot of factors influence the outcome. But outright fudging seems unlikely, especially when double digit increases are reported.

[charmed]

quote:Originally posted by baantjer

For one way rental use.

At the airport:
I take a Segway from the check-in desk and take it to the gate area, where I abandon it.
The Segway finds its way back to the check-in desk along a predetermined path.


That would be very cool. It seems to me that with the 'follow me' mode already programmed in, it would be no difficulty stringing unlimited numbers of them together and a single scooter wrangler redistributing them as necessary, just as is currently done with baggage carts. There are mentions of such a design aspects in the patents, as well as some mentions of wireless controll.

I like the autonomous possibilities, of course, but I can also see problems with that scenario for security reasons. Nimble robots mingling in large crowds would seem to offer a whole new realm of possible terrorist tools.

Drones are getting more and more popular for weapons deployment. I think this could hinder attempts at giving machines the smarts for unmanned navigation.

[Seeker]

If a Segway could be programmed to follow a predetermined path, are there some ways in which this would free up the rider to 'work productively', while travelling on the Segway ?

For instance, postal workers who used Segways had stated that the devices sped up their work in many respects, but that they still had to sort their mail off the Segway. This is a time consuming part of their job. So if it were possible for a postal worker to sort mail, while riding on the Segway, this would make the Segway a more productive tool to use for their work.

Seeker
p.s. But then again, would it make you feel sick, if you were sorting mail on a Segway ?

[Casey]

I delivered mail for 7 years. A carrier presorts the mail and organizes it before leaving the office. The only sorting to be done on the route is to "finger" the mail to get the ones for your next stop. I did this while driving a Jeep, small PU or AMG delivery truck. It is really no big deal. You get used to keeping one eye on the road while fingering your next stop. Segway is as stable as the four wheel vehicles I used, so I see no reason fingering wouldn't come pretty easy, just as sitting in the front passenger seat and driving a pickup truck with normal left side steering did. You just get used to it and do it.

Frank

[Brooster]

A related ePrarie.com article from 9/5/02:

http://www.eprairie.com/news/viewnews.asp?newsletterID=4103

[Casey]

quote:GTI calculates that the $5,000 machines will pay for themselves in about one year.


A little tidbit for the "it costs too much" opponents. Any piece of machinery with a 1 year payback is amazing.

[Brooster]

Now I wonder where the $5,000 figure came from ... we sure seem to be seeing a lot of mixed signals on price, don't we?

[Casey]

quote:Originally posted by Brooster

Now I wonder where the $5,000 figure came from ... we sure seem to be seeing a lot of mixed signals on price, don't we?


If you look in the "Facts and Rumors" link at the top of the page, you'll see that Seattle, Washington got that same figure. It looks like the commercial model may be stabilizing about there.

[Brooster]

If an "e-Series" machine (and it sure sounds like that's what they were using) has come down to $5G, that represents an exceptionally good value ... but I still find it a bit difficult to believe. Weren't we hearing prices of the commercial models being in the $8-10G range not so long ago?

If the writer's $5G figure is correct, it certainly re-kindles my hope that we may see a $3G consumer model after all.

[baantjer]

quote:Originally posted by Brooster

If an "e-Series" machine (and it sure sounds like that's what they were using) has come down to $5G, that represents an exceptionally good value ... but I still find it a bit difficult to believe. Weren't we hearing prices of the commercial models being in the $8-10G range not so long ago?

If the writer's $5G figure is correct, it certainly re-kindles my hope that we may see a $3G consumer model after all.


It wouldn't surprise me if they are already quite flexible in the Segway options:
Large/Small/Snow tires Battery Capacity NiCad/NiMH/LithiumIon Motor Power Side Bags etc ...

That will change the price accordingly

[Casey]

This link is from Brooster's eprairie link. It is not related to Caterpillar, but I will post it here as reference about the Segways we are discussing. It does have a nice picture of three different Segways.

ttp://www.eprairie.com/opinion/viewopinion.asp?newsletterID=3

It defaults to a list. Click on the top one about Chicago.

[baantjer]

quote:Originally posted by Casey

<snip>
It does have a nice picture of three different Segways.
<snip>


I also like the fourth one: http://www.membrana.ru/images/articles/1016578263.jpeg

[Brooster]

Cool! Segway for husky Russian comrade ...

[Casey]

The poor quality of that picture leads me to believe it is faked. I'll put it in Photo Album in a "Curiosities".

[n/a]

quote:Originally posted by Casey

The poor quality of that picture leads me to believe it is faked. I'll put it in Photo Album in a "Curiosities".


I saw that wide tired Segway on the Segway site soon after the reveal and commented on it. That version could be the all terrain model they are planning to introduce. It could also be the type they are modifying for the military and eventually extreme sports?

Where did u find the photo baantjer?

[Casey]

That's a Russian site. If the big wheeler is for real, I will move it to my "Main" photo album. There is something about the picture that just doesn't look right to me. Maybe that[B)] site has poor software.

[baantjer]

quote:Originally posted by Lawrence

<snip>
Where did u find the photo baantjer?


Google Image search and 20 minutes of browsing through the results.

http://www.membrana.ru/articles/technic/2002/03/19/235500.html