2012Vehicles and Mounts forum
Single-wheel electric vehicle as a Steadicam stabilization platform
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A single-wheel electric gyroscopic vehicle with a 10 mph top speed and 250 lb weight capacity costs significantly less than a Segway but offers substantially reduced stability for camera work.
- Mounting camera rigs to a single-wheel vehicle is not practical due to the instability of the platform.
- Operating a single-wheel vehicle requires both hands for balance and steering, making it incompatible with handheld camera work.
- Users experienced foot numbness after 30 minutes of continuous operation on a single-wheel vehicle.
- For extended takes exceeding 30 minutes, a Segway provides superior stability and operator comfort compared to single-wheel alternatives.
Depends on
- The single user who tested the device used it for industrial POV shots with specific production constraints and eventually abandoned it for a Segway.
- Comparison is based on limited field experience rather than comprehensive testing.
- Weight capacity of 250 lb may exclude heavier operators with larger rigs.
- The discussion does not address whether production budgets would cover Segway rental costs.