Via jrjBlog: Build your own Segway in 200 lines of code!
Now this is wild.
I like the author's cautionary suggestions for those who want to build their own "human transporter":
"If you try building anything like this, you should wear serious protective gear when using it, and especially when testing. A helmet, of course, but also wrist protectors (of the sort used in rollerblading, so you don't break your wrists when you fall on them) and knee pads. And you gents should consider wearing an athletic cup so you won't impair your masculinity when you hit the front bar. A bicyle helmet probably isn't good enough for testing. You want a motocross helmet, with the chin guard so you won't break your jaw when you land on it."
Trevor Blackwell is the developer of this Homebrew Segway and is leading a new small company called Anybots that is aiming to develop remote controlled walking robots. Blackwell is self-funding the development of his robot from his share of Viaweb which was sold to Yahoo! for $49 million in stock. A Forbes article talks about Blackwell's new venture.
I like the fact that Blackwell is keeping the Anybots team small (currently at three) and plans to limit his investment in the company to $1 million. Too much money, too early can lead to odd corporate DNA.