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published by
the WGBH Educational Foundation
supported by the National Science Foundation
In this 8-minute Flash video, physicist/inventor Dean Kamen talks about his design of the Segway personal transporter and the IBOT wheelchair. The Segway is a 2-wheeled electric powered vehicle that is accelerated by a driver's weight shift forward or backward. It uses gyroscopic sensors to detect changes in the center of mass. The dynamics of the Segway are similar to an inverted pendulum. The IBOT wheelchair is designed with two sets of powered wheels that can climb stairs and lift the driver to a standing height. It integrates gyroscopic sensors and specialized software to perform its functions.
Editor's Note: Inventor Kamen gives engaging and clear explanations of how he used Newton's Laws to design these devices. All three laws come into play. Teachers' Domain is an NSF-funded pathway of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL). It is a growing collection of videos, lessons, and activities compiled by researchers and experienced teachers to promote the use of digital resources in the classroom. Please note that this resource requires Flash.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)3. The Nature of Technology
3A. Technology and Science
4. The Physical Setting
4F. Motion
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=11497">National Science Foundation. PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It?. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, September 30, 2011.</a>
![]() (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2004), WWW Document, (https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/).
![]() PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It? (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2004), <https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/>.
![]() PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It?. (2011, September 30). Retrieved February 14, 2025, from WGBH Educational Foundation: https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/
![]() National Science Foundation. PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It?. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, September 30, 2011. https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/ (accessed 14 February 2025).
![]() PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It?. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, 2004. 30 Sep. 2011. National Science Foundation. 14 Feb. 2025 <https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/>.
![]() @misc{
Title = {PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It?},
Publisher = {WGBH Educational Foundation},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {14 February 2025},
Month = {September 30, 2011},
Year = {2004}
}
![]() %T PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It? %D September 30, 2011 %I WGBH Educational Foundation %C Boston %U https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/ %O application/flash ![]() %0 Electronic Source %D September 30, 2011 %T PBS LearningMedia: Segway Technology: What's Newton Got to Do with It? %I WGBH Educational Foundation %V 2025 %N 14 February 2025 %8 September 30, 2011 %9 application/flash %U https://oeta.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.segway/segway-technology-whats-newton-got-to-do-with-it/ Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in 3 shared folders. You must login to access shared folders. |