from the old thread:
Moseshatch, I know about alchemy and all, I skate aggressive and all as well. I suppose good job on designing your model, but as other people have asked, please ATLEAST post a picture of them, Tech specs. would be impressive, but I’m sure many people are doubting you, give us a peek. Either way, I am currently working on my own designs. Basic mechanical components would consist of a homopolar generator and a linear motor for the drive wheel set in a heliocentric ring <much like a low energy railgun>, would use currently available wheel designs with absolutely no modification, same bearings. It would be potentially powerful and completely customizable. Battery size would be up to the user and purpose, the generator would serve as a constant energy source, the motor would be used to assist, not for full power, lets not be lazy. Bulk of the skates would be electrical work, not mechanical, so lets get some electrical engineers in here, or if so inclined, PM me. My design would be easily controllable and fairly predictable, it would theoretically, for example allow a 30 MPH skater to obtain 40 MPH, using a 1/3 ratio <editable>. Whoever proposed using weight sensors, is spot on for my design, thank-you. Drive regulation system would be about as complex as a TI-86, and fully editable. All of this is theoretical at this point, but based on logic, a few simple additions would allow you to skate backwards, brake, jump without sudden acceleration unless desired, land, etc. In addition as stated before, completely customizable for just about any purpose. A mechanical concept has been worked through partially as well, requiring no electricity, but it requires many new parts, complexity, cost and weight. Still it would be even crazier than conventional Air-Treck concepts, incredible trick possibilities, basically vectoring forces on your feet, a very interesting concept.