Sometimes walking can be so tedious. Good thing there’s a new way to move. When people first encounter these odd looking, two-wheeled robot scooter thingies, they’re mystified, then intrigued, then adamant that they can’t live without one, even though they didn’t know it existed until 10 seconds ago.
But what exactly is it? There’s really no generic name yet, possibly because it’s so new. Electric unicycle, self-balancing mini smart scooter and drifting board are just a few of the SEO-driven descriptors that pop up at online retailers. It’s sort of unclear who invented it, too.
What this plastic-plank-on-two-wheels does, however, is arguably much more interesting than what it’s called. Performing much like a Segway sans handlebars, the device can propel a 280-pound person along roadways and parking lots and other relatively smooth, dry surfaces for about 10 to 12 miles at speeds up to 6 mph. Doesn’t sound terribly fast, but when you’re just an inch off the ground and not propelling yourself with what the good Lord gave you, it’s a lot. Like a Segway, the device is crammed with digital gyroscopes and stabilizers, as well as myriad sensors that calculate a rider’s centre of gravity and then adjust accordingly. Beginner mode cranks down the speed to 3.7 mph, or the equivalent of a nice stroll. This is a good thing, since a user’s initial tendency is to hop on and flail around. As the manual notes helpfully, this “will cause you to lose control and increase your probability of injury.”
To be fair, the manual also recommends that the user “stay relaxed and step on quickly, confidently and evenly,” as if “climbing a stair,” and then, “if your weight is distributed correctly and your centre of balance is level, you should be able to stand… just as if you were standing on the ground.” Having a spotter within easy reach, another recommendation, sounds reasonable. Getting the initial hang of the IO Hawk is supposed to take about 5 minutes and requires little more than thinking about, and slightly tilting your centre of gravity toward your desired direction. Off you go! Hopefully not into your spotter. Or a wall. Or off a curb. Full proficiency takes about a half-hour.
The IO Hawk sells online for about $1,800, but thanks to cutthroat competition among Chinese manufacturers, similar products are hitting the market with astonishing rapidity. A company called PhunkeeDuck makes and sells what appears to be the exact same thing as the IO Hawk for about $1,500. In fact, dozens of no-name, online companies have begun selling identical devices for much, much cheaper than that — a few are even in the $300 range.
But these lower-priced, motorised toys may vary wildly in terms.