Note: This column represents the opinions
of the writer and as such, is not represented as fact
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At last,
the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook
are revealed for all to see!
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Given the huge critical mass of developers who have jumped onboard the
open source software initiative and contributed to the design and development
of some great software -- I wonder how long before we see an open source
version of Dean Kamen's new scooter, the Segway.
As
this Wired story
describes, the heart of Segway's stability is an array of solid-state gyroscopes
which determine the position of the little vehicle's control column in respect
to true vertical.
You might be forgiven for thinking that these solid state gyros are expensive
and difficult to source -- perhaps the type of component that would be reserved
for expensive avionics or military use -- but they're not.
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Thanks to the demand created by the model helicopter community, there are
now a wide range of
low cost
solid state gyros now readily available.
What's more, the "heading hold" variety would make the construction of a rather
simple Segway exceedingly simple.
By my reckoning, it would be possible to build a fairly simple open source
Segway from readily available components for under NZ$1,000 -- possibly
a whole lot less if you don't need much range.
The high-power, high-efficiency rare-earth motors which have once again
been made affordable by the demands of the modelling community would provide
excellent drive motors and the high-capacity nicad batteries used in electric
model cars would be just one power option.
Of course once the software hackers got involved, all sorts of dynamics
could be added to the simple gyro feedback to provide a far more stable
and predictable ride. This could be accomplished through the use of simple,
low-cost, single-board microprocessors and a bit of code cutting.
This then begs the question -- would it be legal?
Perhaps some patent attorney could enlighten us -- but it's my understanding
(mistaken as it might be) that there's little to stop an individual from
building a patented device for his/her own use -- it's just illegal to manufacture
for others or to exploit for profit.
How would Dean Kamen feel if tens, or hundreds of thousands of pimply-faced
geeks around the globe collaborated to design their own Segway that cost
just a tiny fraction of the real thing?
Of course, before the arrival of the Internet, collaboration on the scale
that we currently see in the open source movement was impractical. Slow and
expensive telecommunications meant that such activities would have been the
domain of the rich and eccentric.
Do we have another clash between the Net and intellectual property rights
looming here?
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Yes, I have had several donations to the Aardvark fund and I thank those
who put their money where their mouse is :-)
If guilt is gnawing away inside you then there's still time to donate.
Just drop by and
hand over your loot.
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