OneWheel: self-balancing e-skate

cal3thousand · Jan 6, 2014

OneWheel seems like a really cool idea. Anyone here seen it or heard of it?

Quick thoughts:

brushless DD motor
Lithium battery
gyroscopes for forward, brake and reverse.
weighs 215 lbs :shock:

Seems like it would be a really fun ride and could cover terrain that other e-skateboards cannot.

Here's a DIY version that I found on YouTube from 2009 (not sure if it is related;looks nearly identical)

[youtube]8RPFNUsuW78[/youtube]

sk8norcal · Jan 6, 2014

on ks, says it weighs 25 lbs.

saw it at local Maker's Faire,
the guy wouldn't let me test ride it, said it was still in prototype stage.

that diy version is not related,
there are whole bunch of of diy versions.
most use chain driven brush motors.
http://wackyboards.blogspot.com/search/label/motorized%20self%20balancing
https://sites.google.com/site/onewheeledselfbalancing/

there is another one coming to the market, made in China.
6 mph, $930
http://www.s-walker.com
http://www.gizmag.com/s-walker-board-balance-board-segway-skateboard/29036/

daverobson08 · Jan 7, 2014

I wonder why they didn't add a cover for the wheel to stop you from catching it with your feet? Seems like that would be pretty important.

cal3thousand · Jan 7, 2014

daverobson08 said:
I wonder why they didn't add a cover for the wheel to stop you from catching it with your feet? Seems like that would be pretty important.

I thought about that too... Maybe they're leaving the window open for tricks and/or unintended comedy

sk8norcal · Jan 7, 2014

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/4422853/onewheel-the-self-balancing-electric-skateboard?ref=live
at $60K
with almost 40 boards

Flexscoot · Jan 12, 2014

Agree for the wheel cover...

I am surprised that a direct drive hubmotor can get enough torque/smoothness at low speed to maintain the rider's balance...but can't find more technical information.

torqueboards · Jan 12, 2014

I seen a video it maxes out at about 13mph. Neat idea I think if you lean too far forward to go faster though you pretty much just tip forward or fall forward. I seen some videos online while they were at CES.

sk8norcal · Jan 12, 2014

Flexscoot said:
I am surprised that a direct drive hubmotor can get enough torque/smoothness at low speed to maintain the rider's balance...but can't find more technical information.

its geared motor

Flexscoot · Jan 12, 2014

To Sk8norcal : Are you sure? it's stated in their specifications on ks page...
They even claim on their website that there is only one moving part, the wheel.
They also say that it's a transverse flux motor. Does such motor have more torque at low speed?

sk8norcal · Jan 12, 2014

ur right,
saw an older version showing geared
http://payload37.cargocollective.com/1/0/29445/3043687/Photo%20Apr%2015-%2011%2036%2005%20AM.jpg

http://www.hoganas.com/en/Segments/E-drive/E-Drive-System/Transverse-flux-motor/

Flexscoot · Jan 14, 2014

In their presskit, it is written : "...state-of-the-art axial flux brushless motor technology..."

In the motor technology chapter of this forum, it's explained that axial flux have superior torque at low speed.

Does someone knows about other (available from supplier) small dimension (8" tire) direct drive hubmotor ?

silviasol · Jan 14, 2014

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/sidewalk-surfer-163119384.html?vp=1

efMX Trials Electric Freeride · Jan 14, 2014

how about something like this scooter hub motor?? : http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=52078#p771923

Flexscoot said:
In their presskit, it is written : "...state-of-the-art axial flux brushless motor technology..."

In the motor technology chapter of this forum, it's explained that axial flux have superior torque at low speed.

Does someone knows about other (available from supplier) small dimension (8" tire) direct drive hubmotor ?

Flexscoot · Jan 14, 2014

Thanks... I saw the post but did not notice that it was gearless and axial flux...

sk8norcal · Jan 14, 2014

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/11/5296628/the-dream-of-the-perfect-electric-skateboard-continues-at-ces-with

silviasol · Jan 15, 2014

This is a wheel barrel board type thing, lol. Wouldn't that large wheel drain the battery quickly? Also have the tire low on air I suppose so you can turn with it. Probably get twice the range with the same battery on a skateboard.

efMX Trials Electric Freeride · Jan 15, 2014

this thing looks very maneuverable to me..
[youtube]ns7RFZPTfpc[/youtube]
would def like to try it! 8)

silviasol said:
This is a wheel barrel board type thing, lol. Wouldn't that large wheel drain the battery quickly? Also have the tire low on air I suppose so you can turn with it. Probably get twice the range with the same battery on a skateboard.

Flexscoot · Jan 15, 2014

I guess that silviasol meant that wide wheels are generally less efficient... specially when used at low pressure

benj · Jan 15, 2014

It looks fun and good luck to the guys behind it, but doesn't this look similar to some Instructable projects - some going back to 2010!

http://m.instructables.com/id/Self-balancing-one-wheeled-electric-skateboard/

http://m.instructables.com/id/Easy-build-self-balancing-skateboardrobotsegway-/

sk8norcal · Sep 13, 2015

made in san jose

[youtube]KrPRvP2H_v0[/youtube]

torqueboards · Sep 13, 2015

Pretty bad ass.. Nice to know everything is made locally.

sl33py · Sep 18, 2015

I saw a guy out on bainbridge island (ferry ride out from Seattle) on a date night who had one. Super maneuverable. Guy was using it to commute from his house to his art studio. Didn't go super fast, but seemed to move a larger guy pretty well, and something like a 20 min charge?

Looked like fun that's for sure. I definitely could see having one in the stable...

Just wish Marbel would do a similar walk through on their assembly line!

sk8norcal · Jan 10, 2016

Chinese onewheel clone seized at CES,
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-07/u-s-marshals-raid-hoverboard-booth-at-ces
http://community.rideonewheel.com/topic/599/what-the-what-is-this/18

[youtube]zMsc-as6eYY[/youtube]

tung256 · Jan 11, 2016

OneWheel charges $1500.
the chinese cloned it, then sells for $500. ouch.

torqueboards · Jan 11, 2016

Seems like they took it down now.

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