What do you think of when you hear the name Segway? If you’re like many around, “tech failure” comes to mind. Dean Kamen’s invention of the Segway PT scooter was expected to revolutionize personal transportation. The Segway was expected to usher in a new era of errand running and puttering around town.

That hasn’t happened. However, Segways are still around. Indeed, Segway celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011, and it is not entirely rare to see the devices zipping along downtown sidewalks. That’s a pretty amazing feat for a tech “failure.”

How do they work though? Below we’ll examine the tech powering the Segway.

Powering the Segway

Electric motors fueled by phosphate-based lithium batteries power the Segway. The scooters are easily charged by simply plugging them into a common electrical socket. Thanks to a combination of two computers, special software, tilt sensors, and five gyroscopic sensors the Segway remains upright and doesn’t tip over.

Making the Segway Move

The sensors register if the user shifts their body weight to change the direction and speed of movement. Put simply, when you wish to go forward at a quicker pace, you would pull the handlebars closer to the body and lean forward slightly. The Segway’s current top speed is 12.5 mph and is ideal for areas with plenty of wide, flat sidewalk space.

Lowered Expectations

The device never did live up to its hype. Many technology experts predicted that the Segway PT would become a bigger deal than the Internet. Therefore, when company officials revealed the first Segway scooter in December of 2001 in Manhattan, expectations soared.

Of course, we all know what happened. The Segway looked strange, and people looked odd riding it. That was enough to prevent the Segway from taking off as its promoters expected.