They go by several names. I own an An Airwheel X3 and it is one sweet ride.
The other names are Airwheel, Solowheel, IPS , and Mobbo
Self Balancing Electric UniCycle
The briefcase-sized electric unicycle is the smallest, greenest, most convenient "People Mover" ever invented. This gyro-stabilized electric unicycle is compact and fun to ride and is intended to be used as you would use an electric bicycle.
Its transportation that doubles as a personal thrill ride like sailing and surfing.
The transition from "This is impossible!" to "Hey, I'm actually riding!" is very sudden, so you won't feel like you are making progress at first in the first half hour. I started in my home hallway for about 20 end to end rides using the walls to guide me for fifteen minutes. I moved out to the driveway and within 45 minutes I was riding up and down the street. My balancing moment was when I just bent my legs a little and then I was able to balance better than with straight legs.
Biggest tip: Pad your ankles! Once you learn to ride, you won't need any padding and you will feel completely comfortable just hopping on and taking off, but while you're learning your ankles will get bruised if you don't wear thick padding.
24 V LiFePO4 ... Lithium iron phosphate battery
It is a rechargeable electric unicycle with a gyroscope and inertia monitoring to help maintain balance.
The electric unicycle’s versatility and light weight allows for convenient traveling around the city, a country trail, the beach or a school campus.
The electric unicycle’s is lightweight and convenient. You can bring it into offices, classrooms, restaurants, buses and subway trains. The built-in carrying handle makes it convenient to quickly pick up the electric unicycle when you get to a flight of stairs. With the foot pedals folded up, it takes up no more space than a briefcase when you stow it in your car or home.
Use the electric unicycle to replace a car for short distances. This reduces gas costs, pollution, and traffic. Riders with short commutes can travel to work or school on the electric unicycle, charge the unit in the office or classroom, and then ride back home.
The electric unicycle provides a convenient hands-free experience.
Because you operate the electric unicycle entirely by shifting your body weight and adjusting the angle of your feet and lower legs, you have both hands free to carry anything you need. Carry a cup of coffee, a bag of groceries; pull a rolling suitcase, even open doors, or just put your hands in your pockets to keep them warm.
As with hybrid cars, the battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down using regenerative breaking.
All riders need to wear sneakers and a helmet and other safety gear, such as knee pads, when operating the electric unicycle.
The electric unicycle real hook is that it doesn't have to be locked up outside like a bike. Carry it inside with you, using its handle or put it in an optional back pack.
The electric unicycle requires a rider to merely stand on its two folding feet pads; gyroscopic sensors detect a rider's subtle feet movements while accounting for a shoulder-slung backpack or bag for its center-of-mass calculations.
Housed within a sturdy ABS case, the motor spins the cycle's single 16" diameter wheel that extends only 4" from the case, so pants legs won't snag.
It takes about 20 to 30 minutes of practicing to really get the hang of it.
After that, I would say it would be another two to three hours before a person should venture out on to the roads on it. The learning curve is much faster than a regular unicycle. Lean forward, move faster. Lean back, slow down. Any loss of balance can (usually) be righted by a twist of the hips.
What I didn't realize was how amazing the feeling of gliding down the street is. It's an unbelievably angelic feeling which still makes me laugh. And be prepared for lots of stares and attention, because it's a strange sight to see.
You can purchase these in the $500 USD range
I purchased mine on e-bay
Speed Up to 10 mph / 16 kmh
Range Approx. 10 miles / 16 km
Charge time < 1 hour
Weight 21 lbs / 9.8 kg
Maximum load 265 lbs / 120 kg
Motor power 1000 W
Battery 24V LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate), 96 Wh
Charger Custom international 2A charger, 100-240 VAC
Tire 14″ × 2.125″
Maximum incline 15°
Warranty 1 year
Battery lifetime Over 1000 cycles
Length 17 in / 43.2 cm
Width (pedals unfolded) 14 in / 35.6 cm
Width (pedals folded) 7 in / 17.6 cm
Height 15 in / 39.5 cm
Step Spacing 4 in / 11.2 cm
Protection grade IP65
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Hdq2QOugk
http://www.menshealth.com/techlust/solowheel
http://en.iamips.com/
The other names are Airwheel, Solowheel, IPS , and Mobbo
Self Balancing Electric UniCycle
The briefcase-sized electric unicycle is the smallest, greenest, most convenient "People Mover" ever invented. This gyro-stabilized electric unicycle is compact and fun to ride and is intended to be used as you would use an electric bicycle.
Its transportation that doubles as a personal thrill ride like sailing and surfing.
The transition from "This is impossible!" to "Hey, I'm actually riding!" is very sudden, so you won't feel like you are making progress at first in the first half hour. I started in my home hallway for about 20 end to end rides using the walls to guide me for fifteen minutes. I moved out to the driveway and within 45 minutes I was riding up and down the street. My balancing moment was when I just bent my legs a little and then I was able to balance better than with straight legs.
Biggest tip: Pad your ankles! Once you learn to ride, you won't need any padding and you will feel completely comfortable just hopping on and taking off, but while you're learning your ankles will get bruised if you don't wear thick padding.
24 V LiFePO4 ... Lithium iron phosphate battery
It is a rechargeable electric unicycle with a gyroscope and inertia monitoring to help maintain balance.
The electric unicycle’s versatility and light weight allows for convenient traveling around the city, a country trail, the beach or a school campus.
The electric unicycle’s is lightweight and convenient. You can bring it into offices, classrooms, restaurants, buses and subway trains. The built-in carrying handle makes it convenient to quickly pick up the electric unicycle when you get to a flight of stairs. With the foot pedals folded up, it takes up no more space than a briefcase when you stow it in your car or home.
Use the electric unicycle to replace a car for short distances. This reduces gas costs, pollution, and traffic. Riders with short commutes can travel to work or school on the electric unicycle, charge the unit in the office or classroom, and then ride back home.
The electric unicycle provides a convenient hands-free experience.
Because you operate the electric unicycle entirely by shifting your body weight and adjusting the angle of your feet and lower legs, you have both hands free to carry anything you need. Carry a cup of coffee, a bag of groceries; pull a rolling suitcase, even open doors, or just put your hands in your pockets to keep them warm.
As with hybrid cars, the battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down using regenerative breaking.
All riders need to wear sneakers and a helmet and other safety gear, such as knee pads, when operating the electric unicycle.
The electric unicycle real hook is that it doesn't have to be locked up outside like a bike. Carry it inside with you, using its handle or put it in an optional back pack.
The electric unicycle requires a rider to merely stand on its two folding feet pads; gyroscopic sensors detect a rider's subtle feet movements while accounting for a shoulder-slung backpack or bag for its center-of-mass calculations.
Housed within a sturdy ABS case, the motor spins the cycle's single 16" diameter wheel that extends only 4" from the case, so pants legs won't snag.
It takes about 20 to 30 minutes of practicing to really get the hang of it.
After that, I would say it would be another two to three hours before a person should venture out on to the roads on it. The learning curve is much faster than a regular unicycle. Lean forward, move faster. Lean back, slow down. Any loss of balance can (usually) be righted by a twist of the hips.
What I didn't realize was how amazing the feeling of gliding down the street is. It's an unbelievably angelic feeling which still makes me laugh. And be prepared for lots of stares and attention, because it's a strange sight to see.
You can purchase these in the $500 USD range
I purchased mine on e-bay
Speed Up to 10 mph / 16 kmh
Range Approx. 10 miles / 16 km
Charge time < 1 hour
Weight 21 lbs / 9.8 kg
Maximum load 265 lbs / 120 kg
Motor power 1000 W
Battery 24V LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate), 96 Wh
Charger Custom international 2A charger, 100-240 VAC
Tire 14″ × 2.125″
Maximum incline 15°
Warranty 1 year
Battery lifetime Over 1000 cycles
Length 17 in / 43.2 cm
Width (pedals unfolded) 14 in / 35.6 cm
Width (pedals folded) 7 in / 17.6 cm
Height 15 in / 39.5 cm
Step Spacing 4 in / 11.2 cm
Protection grade IP65
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Hdq2QOugk
http://www.menshealth.com/techlust/solowheel
http://en.iamips.com/
