The Solowheel, The Compact Segway

Admit it. No matter how revolutionary, convenient, or efficient a Segway is, there just too geeky. The Solowheel might not be a solution to that problem but it’s definitely more compact. The “self-balancing electric unicycle” takes the challenge out of riding a unicycle by using a gyroscope to keep the Solowheel upright and is powered by a 1000 watt motor and features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.  According to Inventist, the company that created the Solowheel, it has a two-hour battery life and can be fully charged in 45 minutes.  The battery also gains power by recapturing energy when going downhill or when slowing down. Weighing in at only 20 pounds making it extremely portable with only two foot rests to fold up; you could easily put in your backpack or slide it under your desk at work. There’s also a handle for easy mobility.

However this brings into the question the usefulness of transportation like the Solowheel and Segways. Yes, they’re faster than walking but are we really that lazy? The Solowheel really isn’t that viable once you get to areas more populate than your average suburb as dodging people on foot is hard enough let alone a self-balancing unicycle. Plus you still look goofy riding one.