Comparison hoverboards & E-Unicycles

— Hoverboard. Such a vehicle is a board with a pair of wheels (one at each end). The hardware of the hoverboard includes a balancing system that allows the rider to stand steadily on such a platform. The board itself is divided into two platforms, separately for each leg. The hoverboard is controlled by slightly tilting the platforms forward or backwards, while each of them controls its wheel, causing it to rotate in the appropriate direction. Thus, to go forward, you need to slightly tilt your legs on your toes; to go back tilt on your heels, and by tilting the platforms in different directions, you can even spin in place. Such equipment usually does not have a clearly defined front and back side; it drives the same way in any direction. Moving on a hoverboard requires certain skills and attentiveness, but it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. At the same time, the apparatuses themselves are quite light and compact — the dimensions of many models are comparable to not the largest skateboards.

— Hoverboard with handle. A variety of self-balancing vehicles, colloquially called "segways" — by the name of the Segway company, which first introduced a successful model of such a vehicle to the market. By design, such vehicles are generally similar to the hoverboard described above — they have a platform for legs, two wheels and a balancing system. The key difference is primarily the...handle (steering column) mentioned in the title. It is vertical and is usually located in the middle of the platform, while its length can be different — most often it is supposed to hold on to the upper end of the handle with your hands, but there are also compact models where it is clamped between the knees. In addition, the hoverboard with handle may have a slightly different control method: the platform is often made in one piece, without dividing into halves for the left and right legs, and is only responsible for moving back and forth, while turns in such models are carried out by tilting the steering rack. Anyway, the handle provides additional support, making riding such a hoverboard somewhat easier and safer than a classic one (especially at high speeds). On the other hand, devices of this type are noticeably more expensive, heavier and more bulky than models without handles. As a result, if an ordinary hoverboard can be easily hidden in a backpack, then the hoverboard with handle will most likely have to be transported in the car boot.

— E-unicycle. Further development of the idea of self-balancing transport, units equipped with only one wheel — like unicycle bicycles, only with an electric drive. The wheel in such devices is covered with a case containing electronic and mechanical hardware; and foot platforms are located on both sides of the wheel, usually below the axle, and are often made foldable for compact storage and transportation. The design usually does not include a front/rear side. Maintaining balance on an e-unicycle is easier than on a unicycle bicycle, but it can be more difficult than on a hoverboard. Riding requires carefulness: hitting even a low obstacle can lead to a fall forward (the weaker the e-unicycle motors, the higher the likelihood of such an accident). However, the described points can also be perceived as advantages (or neutral features), and this vehicle also has its adherents, and the maximum speed of an e-unicycle can be quite high (although, of course, protective equipment is required for a safe ride).

The maximum rider weight that the device can support (including the weight of a backpack, bag and other things carried on oneself; this is especially important to remember if the weight of the person himself is close to the maximum allowable). If the permissible load is exceeded, the transport not only loses efficiency but can also break down at any time. Therefore, it is impossible to ignore the prescriptions for weight anyway.

The average distance that can be driven on a single battery charge. Usually, the range is indicated with some overestimation — based on a low (optimal from the point of view of energy consumption) speed, uniform movement on a flat surface, etc. Therefore, the actual battery life may be somewhat less. Nevertheless, this parameter is quite suitable for comparing different models with each other.
Thanks to the development of technology, the range in modern self-balancing vehicles can reach several tens of kilometers.

The maximum speed that the hoverboard is capable of reaching: on a flat surface, with a full battery charge and an average rider weight. The same parameter is also the maximum safe speed allowed when using this model; in theory, it is possible to accelerate even faster (for example, from a mountain), but this is fraught with breakdown, accident and injury, and therefore is not recommended at all.

Most modern models have a maximum speed of up to 20 km/h, and in “high-speed” vehicles this figure can exceed 30 km/h. Note that a fall from a hoverboard, even at a speed of 10 – 15 km/h, is fraught with serious injuries. Therefore, protective gear is highly recommended.

The diameter of the wheels used in the vehicle. Technically, larger wheels contribute to rolling ability and reduce sensitivity to obstacles and small bumps. However, these possibilities are influenced by many other factors, not least the engine power: with a weak engine, the unit may not have time to cope with the obstacle, which will lead to the rider falling forward. Therefore, large wheels must be combined with a powerful engine.

By itself, information about the diameter of the wheel can be useful when repairing or replacing it.

The maximum angle of inclination of the surface at which the vehicle can normally drive up or down (in some models, this parameter is indicated only for one direction, for example, up).

This parameter characterizes the ability of the device to overcome ups and downs. In modern models, it can reach 45 °. At the same time, note that the ability to cope with large angles requires not only powerful motors, but also appropriate design features (in particular, so that the protective cover does not scrape the ground); and for the descent, the second is even more important than the first. Therefore, when choosing a model for frequent driving on slopes, you should pay attention not only to power, but also to the angle of inclination directly stated in the specs.

Also note that at a high load (approaching the maximum), the efficiency of overcoming climbs may decrease. On the other hand, some manufacturers indicate the angle of inclination at the maximum load, and clarify that the light weight of the rider allows you to overcome steeper climbs than originally stated.

The material used for the wheels. In this case, it is indicated not the material of the wheel as a whole, but the material of the tyres .

The vast majority of self-stabilizing vehicles use rubber tyres, usually inflatable. This option is considered optimal for several reasons: in particular, it provides excellent shock absorption and grip, as well as evenly distributes the load on the rim and prevents its deformation.

— Position lights. The dimensions of the self-stabilizing transport are small, so such lights not only highlight the dimensions of the vehicle, but increase its visibility. This function is especially important at night — for safety, both for the rider and those around him. And in some countries, operation without position lights is prohibited by law.

In models that do not have front and rear sides as such and can drive equally efficiently in either direction, position lights are often made in the form of switchable two-colour lights: for example, the device turns on white light from the side it is currently traveling to, and red on the opposite side of the case.

— Bluetooth. This feature turns the vehicle into a mobile speaker system: you can connect an external Bluetooth device (for example, a smartphone) to it and listen to music through the built-in speakers during the ride.

— USB port. Usually, this port is intended for charging smartphones or other gadgets from the built-in battery — thus, the vehicle turns into an external battery (power bank). At the same time, given the impressive battery capacity in a self-stabilizing vehicle, charging an external gadget has practically no effect on the power reserve — especially since we are most often talking about a minimum charge replenishment, and not about charging up to 100%.

...— Remote control. Such control can be carried out both from a separate remote control supplied in the kit, and via a smartphone (usually via Bluetooth) using a proprietary application. Specific control options can be different — up to the tracking mode, when the device itself follows the owner at a certain distance. However, anyway, this function significantly expands the possibilities of transport.

Battery capacity of the device in milliamp-hours (mAh)

This parameter characterizes the amount of energy that the battery can store. The higher the number the more energy the battery stores, respectively, the greater the range (see above) and the more time it will take to charge. However, mAh is a popular, but not very reliable unit of power measurement: the actual amount of stored energy depends not only on the “milliamp hours”, but also on the battery voltage (and it can vary greatly in different models). The actual battery life strongly depends on the power consumption of the unit (determined primarily by engine power). This means that only models with similar performance characteristics and the same battery voltage can be compared with each other in this indicator. And when choosing, it’s easier to focus on more practical indicators — first of all, the range.