Robstep () is a line of two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered
electric vehicle
An electric vehicle (EV) is a motor vehicle whose propulsion is powered fully or mostly by electricity. EVs encompass a wide range of transportation modes, including road vehicle, road and rail vehicles, electric boats and Submersible, submer ...
s invented by Dongguan Robstep Robot Co., Ltd. of
Guangdong
) means "wide" or "vast", and has been associated with the region since the creation of Guang Prefecture in AD 226. The name "''Guang''" ultimately came from Guangxin ( zh, labels=no, first=t, t= , s=广信), an outpost established in Han dynasty ...
, Dongguan, China. The name "Robstep" is a
portmanteau
In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together. of the words "robot" and "step", meaning robotic steps. The devices have been compared to
Segways.
Computers and motors inside of the device keep the Robstep upright when powered on with balancing enabled. A user commands the Robstep to go forward by shifting their weight forward on the platform, and backward by shifting their weight backward. The Robstep detects, as it balances, the change in its
center of mass
In physics, the center of mass of a distribution of mass in space (sometimes referred to as the barycenter or balance point) is the unique point at any given time where the weight function, weighted relative position (vector), position of the d ...
, and first establishes and then maintains a corresponding speed, forward or backward.
Gyroscopic sensor
A vibrating structure gyroscope (VSG), defined by the IEEE as a Coriolis vibratory gyroscope (CVG), is a gyroscope that uses a vibrating (as opposed to rotating) structure as its orientation reference. A vibrating structure gyroscope functions ...
s and fluid-based
level sensor
Level sensors detect the level of liquids and other fluids and fluidized solids, including slurries, granular materials, and powders that exhibit an upper free surface. Substances that flow become essentially horizontal in their containers (or ...
s detect the weight shift. To turn, the user presses the handlebar to the left or the right.
Robsteps are driven by electric motors and can reach a speed of 9.3 miles per hour (15 km/h).
Robsteps are comparable to Segways. They are known as human transporters and personal mobility devices. Some customers use them as a disability device. There are now two different types of batteries fitted on these devices. One is considered a dangerous good for airline travel (lithium ion) and the other type is acceptable (nickel metal hydride). Engineering conversion from one battery type to the other is now available from various after-market engineering firms and the conversion is indicated by an authorized sticker placed adjacent to the name plate on modified units.
References
External links
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* (United Kingdom)
* (Romania)
Personal transporter manufacturers
Battery electric vehicles
Mobility devices
Electric two-wheel vehicles
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