SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2012
As it happens, he likes to glide. On wheels. On motorised wheels attached to his shoes.
Peter has developed a pair of battery-powered skates called spnKiX – a fancy way of writing Spin Kicks – which strap right on to your shoes and are hand-controlled by a wireless remote.
The remote, which is the size of a key fob and straps to your hand, allows you to vary the throttle while each skate has its own battery and motor, with the hardware and electronics cleverly integrated into the Nylon-fibre reinforced frame to create a sort of mini Segway for each foot.
“For most of my life, I have been interested in personal mobility and I have been asking the same questions all of you have been asking: Where are our flying cars? Where are the jet packs? Where are my motorised shoes?” says Treadway.
“Well, after spending five years researching, designing and developing a variety of different prototypes, the miniaturisation of certain technologies found in smart phones, laptops and radio controlled cars has finally made it possible for us to integrate them all into a pair of ‘shoes’ so that you can go for a spin!”
To gather the cash necessary to go into a full scale production, Treadway used Kickerstarter.com, the online threshold pledge system that helps to raise capital for projects by harnessing the power of ‘crowd funding’.
“Now the project is funded, we expect our first production run to arrive from the factory towards the end of February,” he says. “So expect the first delivery in March.”
Of course, if spnKiX use mobile phone-like technology, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast the days you plan to use them – and not take them out for a spin in the middle of a tropical downpour. “Small rain or water puddles on the street shouldn’t be a problem, but spnKiX can’t be soaked in water, just like your cell phone,” says Treadway.
The robustness of the design will also be challenged by the heftier among us – to the point that the spnKiX team recommend that users weigh no more than 80kg (180lbs) – ruling out most rugby players, American footballers and sumo wrestlers from using them.
To brake with spnKiX, there is a stopper, like on rollerskates. Otherwise, you just take your finger off the gas and you will slow down fairly quickly.
It might be, though, that you come to a complete halt a lot sooner than you wish: The rechargeable lithium battery – which takes 2 to 3 hours to fully load – lets you go about 2 to 3 miles (4.8 to 6.4 km) per charge depending on the angle of the surface you are rolling on.
So, with a top speed of 16 kmh/10mph, that will give you an autonomy of only about 20 minutes, which means you could find yourself taking a long walk or jog home, which, if that were the case, would certainly dispel any accusations that using spnKiX will make the lazy among us even lazier.
“SpnKiX are closer to rollerblades than any ‘upright, stand-on’ vehicle and will not make anyone lazy,” says Treadway. “People will be outside and more active than before – and with more speed and style. These are a range extender!”
For more information, please visit www.spnkix.com and www.kickstarter.com/
spnKiX motorised roller skates - imagine a mini Segway on each foot
Peter Treadway is a design consultant based in Los Angeles and with a name like his you would think that he likes to walk places.As it happens, he likes to glide. On wheels. On motorised wheels attached to his shoes.
Peter has developed a pair of battery-powered skates called spnKiX – a fancy way of writing Spin Kicks – which strap right on to your shoes and are hand-controlled by a wireless remote.
The remote, which is the size of a key fob and straps to your hand, allows you to vary the throttle while each skate has its own battery and motor, with the hardware and electronics cleverly integrated into the Nylon-fibre reinforced frame to create a sort of mini Segway for each foot.
“For most of my life, I have been interested in personal mobility and I have been asking the same questions all of you have been asking: Where are our flying cars? Where are the jet packs? Where are my motorised shoes?” says Treadway.
“Well, after spending five years researching, designing and developing a variety of different prototypes, the miniaturisation of certain technologies found in smart phones, laptops and radio controlled cars has finally made it possible for us to integrate them all into a pair of ‘shoes’ so that you can go for a spin!”
To gather the cash necessary to go into a full scale production, Treadway used Kickerstarter.com, the online threshold pledge system that helps to raise capital for projects by harnessing the power of ‘crowd funding’.
“Now the project is funded, we expect our first production run to arrive from the factory towards the end of February,” he says. “So expect the first delivery in March.”
Of course, if spnKiX use mobile phone-like technology, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast the days you plan to use them – and not take them out for a spin in the middle of a tropical downpour. “Small rain or water puddles on the street shouldn’t be a problem, but spnKiX can’t be soaked in water, just like your cell phone,” says Treadway.
The robustness of the design will also be challenged by the heftier among us – to the point that the spnKiX team recommend that users weigh no more than 80kg (180lbs) – ruling out most rugby players, American footballers and sumo wrestlers from using them.
To brake with spnKiX, there is a stopper, like on rollerskates. Otherwise, you just take your finger off the gas and you will slow down fairly quickly.
It might be, though, that you come to a complete halt a lot sooner than you wish: The rechargeable lithium battery – which takes 2 to 3 hours to fully load – lets you go about 2 to 3 miles (4.8 to 6.4 km) per charge depending on the angle of the surface you are rolling on.
So, with a top speed of 16 kmh/10mph, that will give you an autonomy of only about 20 minutes, which means you could find yourself taking a long walk or jog home, which, if that were the case, would certainly dispel any accusations that using spnKiX will make the lazy among us even lazier.
“SpnKiX are closer to rollerblades than any ‘upright, stand-on’ vehicle and will not make anyone lazy,” says Treadway. “People will be outside and more active than before – and with more speed and style. These are a range extender!”
For more information, please visit www.spnkix.com and www.kickstarter.com/
