Getting to know your Onewheel makes sense. Most people want to know how to ride it and care for it, but have you ever been curious about what makes one work? If you’re looking for the secret specs and trade secrets, I’m afraid we can’t help you there. What we can tell you about is the science behind what makes the Onewheel work, and give you a deeper appreciation for the physics and mechanics that go into your favorite ride about town.
The Lean
How does the Onewheel go with your flow? It’s pretty crazy when you think about it. The more you lean, the faster you go. It boils down to understanding the mechanics of motion and having some sensors that can read you while interpreting the laws of physics. The Onewheel has a Hall Effect sensor that measures output voltage as a response to a magnetic field that determines positioning and speed. It also has an additional sensor called an accelerometer (you may have heard of this one). Between these two gadgets, the Onewheel knows how fast you want to go and how fast you’re able to.
The Balance
Gyration isn’t something only used to describe well-moving hips. In the case of a Onewheel, it uses a rate gyroscope, a tool used to measure your orientation and indicates the rate of change of an angle. In other words, it’s what keeps the Onewheel balanced in a horizontal position even if you lean too far one way or another. There’s a small learning curve of course, but after a few minutes of adjusting your balance you’ll literally feel how unlikely it is to tip over. You could say the rate gyroscope is like the Onewheel’s version of an inner ear.
The Controls
How does the Onewheel read you and the environment? Where are these gadgets hidden? Is there some secret remote you didn’t know about? The Onewheel is kind of split into two sections. Under the front foot pad of your ride is the rechargeable battery that keeps you rolling, and under the back foot pad are the control electronics. That’s where the motion sensors are, very similar to the kind in your smartphone. They run a control loop that tells the motor how to run and balance. It’s like the middleman between you and the sensors described above. This is also how the Onewheel knows when to stop. No foot on the controls, no motion. Comes in handy when you try to dismount a little too hastily instead of rolling to a standstill.
Know Your Ride
That covers the basics of how the Onewheel works. Hope we didn’t suck the magic out of it, but if we did, you already know the cure! Give a Onewheel a try and you’ll forget all about the mechanics and science-y specs…unless you’re into those things. If you are, then well done future engineer! If you’re eager to get a headstart in your Physics 101 class, we’ve got the perfect demo program to study how the Onewheel works. You can try one out with no obligation to buy, and there’s even free shipping! Here’s how it works:
- Choose between the XR and the Pint
- Decide your demo duration of 3, 5, or 10 days
- Pay the deposit
- Track your Onewheel obsessively until it’s delivered
- Ride it around town!
If not to your liking, send it back using the prepaid label and your deposit is refunded (minus the cost of the demo period). But since we both know you’ll discover the magic and awesomeness of this boredom-crushing recreational device, when you decide to purchase your Onewheel that deposit is included in the cost. Pretty nifty, huh?
So, now that we’ve covered the anatomy and physics of the Onewheel (and the can’t-miss demo program), how would you like to check out the differences between the Onewheel Pint and Onewheel XR? We’ve got the details covered in our Summer Showdown [insert compare blog link for Onewheel Pint vs XR: The Summer Showdown], but the science is the same. Laws of nature and all that stuff.
If you’re ready to give the Onewheel a spin head on over to our demo program here. Or reach out with a quick call or text and we’ll answer any questions you have.
