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CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

cpsc.gov

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Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#221

Post by skellera »

slt2021 wrote: post #145
alden5 wrote: post #3

onewheels suffer from a problem known as nosediving in which the board shuts off when it can't supply enough power to support the rider, as the board is self balancing this is a problem intrinsic to the board's form factor. The board works in a similar fashion to balancing something like an umbrella on your hand, as the rider leans forward it creates an imbalance that requires the board to accelerate in order to keep…

FutureMotion must equip all onewheels with safety wheels on both sides. Also known as Fangs bumper wheels. This must come standard from factory, just as safety belts come with car. physics is no excuse for lousy engineering from FutureMotion and complete disregard of life threatening diving condition!

No way on the tail. That’s the best way to emergency stop.

I can’t argue that fangs on the front could be safer but most riders I see would probably not recover a nose dive with them.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#222

Post by mikestew »

easygenes wrote: post #111
mikestew wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The device tips its nose forward and dumps its rider on their head. There is no need to compare to anything if a device has this behavior. If the battery runs out, I expect the device to come to a stop, not throw me on my ass. I'm pretty sure even a paramotoring rig that runs out of fuel isn't going to immediately hurt me, and those things fly .

Ever tried to brake too hard on a motorcycle? You can get them to slip out in all sorts of bad ways or just plain flip pretty easily without finesse and skill. Certain sports just come with more risks. In some cases they’re niche enough with the right communities that they self police or fly under the radar and escape regulation. Others wind up with restrictions and licensing requirements. In one wheel’s case it’s a…

Ever tried to brake too hard on a motorcycle?

Yes. If I turn off the ABS and traction control, I'm skilled enough to lift the back wheel. But you know what has never happened? Having the front brake lock all on its own because I dared run the bike to empty.

...and you’re still best off never letting the battery die.

...lest the board cast you to the ground in a dangerous manner. Which, from my reading, is why the CPSC would like OneWheel to issue a recall. I'm hard-pressed to think of any other device that doesn't just coast to a halt when it runs out of fuel. Even an airplane doesn't just immediately plow nose-first into the ground when it runs out of juice.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#223

Post by skellera »

ksbrooksjr wrote: post #14
aksss wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good summary. I would just add that "can't supply enough power" is a state the board can enter into either in lower battery levels or (more often) when a rider has put their center of mass too far forward, causing the board to work harder to stay under them, while also moving at a higher rate of speed or accelerating - the board can't give enough power to maintain this. Pushback is to be respected, but the user can a…

Apparently some users have attached smaller wheels to the front of the Onewheel that engage during a nosedive [1]. I wonder how effective these are at preventing injury. [1] https://old.reddit.com/r/onewheel/comments/903wnj/diy_antino...

It gives you another split second to recover. If you aren’t expecting it or just don’t have the body control for it, you’ll probably still go down.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#224

Post by jshzglr »

kube-system wrote: post #103
jshzglr wrote: post #85

Let’s recall all cars. I hear people get injured in them as well.

We do recall cars when design flaws endanger or kill users. This happens literally hundreds of times per year in the US.

Yes when there is a legit defect. People getting injured on onewheels are pushing the board to the max, ignoring the warnings and face planting when the board tops out.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#225

Post by moffkalast »

strix_varius wrote: post #216
rainsurf wrote: post #54

I strongly disagree with this recall. I own a Onewheel (XR) and have ridden nearly ~1,000 miles on it in a variety of conditions. I've only had one incident and it was entirely my fault (riding at night without proper lights and hit a pothole). The Onewheel definitely has a learning curve. Like most things in life if you are patient in learning it and respect the limits it is entirely safe. I think the safeguards One…

Are we sharing anecdata now? I also have an XR with about 1k miles on it. For the vast majority of those miles it's been fine. It's had two issues, both of which were terrifying. The first was just a simple nosedive. For some fraction of a second no power went to the board. I went flying, rolled, used crutches for a few weeks. The second was when the battery cells became "unbalanced." The closest way to describe its…

While adding extra things that can fail to an already dangerous method of transport isn't the greatest idea I don't really see how that's too different from a skateboard losing a wheel or hitting the smallest pothole with an inline skate.

Powered or not, going fast on something you just precariously stand on will send people to the hospital constantly regardless.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#227

Post by Dylan16807 »

js2 wrote: post #121
Dylan16807 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I didn’t realize these one wheels have top speeds of 16-20 mph. That’s faster than most people can sprint. 16 mph is a 3:45 mile. 20 is a 3:00 mile. Those numbers are somewhat relevant but shorter sprints are about 50% faster than a mile pace.

16 mph is also a 14 second 100-meter dash. You have to be in decent shape to run that quickly and your legs already have to be in motion. 20 mph is an 11 second 100-meter dash. That’s fast enough to win races against all but trained athletes. FWIW, I’m a marathon runner with a 3:07 PR. I’ve done a lot of speed work. I don’t think I could run fast enough to keep up falling off a board in motion at 16 mph.

The speeds are nothing to sneeze at, but also keep in mind that the peak speed in a hundred meter dash is higher than the average speed, and when you're jumping off a device you're rapidly losing speed which means less effort too.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#228

Post by butterguns »

alistairSH wrote: post #209
butterguns wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know how to fall (intellectually). How do I translate that into the real world? I took a nasty fall on my MTB this summer, broke my shoulder. Everything was instinctual and a blur. Can we somehow retrain our innate responses?

Practice. In mountain bike terms, that means lots of slower/easier terrain, with occasional “soft” falls. If there are skills areas in any of your trail networks, those are great. Trail running can help - you’ll eventually trip and you’re closer to the ground and going a bit slower, so you have a bit more time to react (tuck and roll, hopefully). That said, broken collar-bones (along with separated shoulders) are one…

My first over-the-handlebars resulted in a fractured Greater Tuberosity. Pretty sure I reached my arm out to catch myself. Terrible decision.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#229

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

ok_dad wrote: post #86

I never realized how fast 25mph was until I fell off my two wheeled electric scooter going that speed and was slowed down by a bus-head impact after I braked a bit. Luckily I was wearing a helmet and long pants, but I still broke my back in several places. A cop that saw me whiff it said I was probably only going 10 by the time I hit the bus. I believe all of these electric whatever should be lawfully mandated to go…

They are already largely illegal in the US when operated on public roads.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#230

Post by danuker »

antihero wrote: post #164
eagleinparadise wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My partner was hospitalized for nearly a week and had to have facial reconstructive surgery and nearly lost all her teeth after she got hit by someone on a scooter going 25mph while we were walking Be careful out there if you combine speed + unprotected mode of transportation

I for one think the future where we all walk around in cyberpunk body armour to protect ourselves from wayward idiots on powered transportation they are unable to control would be kind of sick

I'd be fine with everyone wearing bodycams and any victim being able to prove in court that they deserve damages.
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