Better Than a Segway: Test Driving InMotion SCV R1EX

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By Lance Ulanoff2014-01-12 19:31:34 UTC

LAS VEGAS — The Segway may not have changed the world, as inventor Dean Kamen hoped, but the existence of a self-balancing personal mobility vehicle did end up spawning many imitators — some more promising than others. I’d put the InMotion SCV R1EX, a sensor-controlled vehicle, in that category.

At just 35 pounds (the Segway i2 weighs a little over 100 pounds) and fully portable, the SCV R1EX is somewhat less intimidating than your garden variety Segway, although they work in similar ways. Users climb onto the platform of the two-wheeled, self-balancing robot, grab the handle and then lean slightly forward to move forward. To turn, users must lean slightly left or right (the motion is so slight, it might as well be called an intention). More extreme leans make you go faster, turn harder or stop quickly.

Without any training or guidance, I mounted an SCV R1EX, and started driving around CES. Granted, I’d ridden a Segway 10 years ago, so perhaps I was more prepared than others. Still, it was incredibly easy to drive and control. At $2,499, the SCV R1EX is considerably cheaper than a Segway, some of which still sell for three times as much.

The SCV R1EX, which is available now via the company's website, can also perform a trick that is impossible to do with the Segway: It breaks down into a few parts without the aid of any tools, and is highly portable as a result (I watched an InMotion rep do this in about 10 seconds). I can envision collapsing the SCV R1EX, dropping it into my truck and taking it out when I'm ready to drive. The vehicle is rated at 3.5 hours of riding time per charge, which is enough for an afternoon in the park or around your house.

The dashboard, which shows current speed among other things, is actually a removable remote control. InMotion also sells an accessory that lets you connect a tablet or smartphone to the vehicle, which has built in Wi-Fi.

How good is the InMotion SCV R1EX? If I had $2,499 to spare, I’d probably buy one right now. It was just so much fun to drive. Check out the video, above, to see the vehicle in action and — thanks to Google Glass — look through my eyes as I zoom around CES.

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Image: Mashable