daddyphat808 - Eric 16 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Saw this and thought of you! One of the Floating Fairies broke down. Check out the link for photos of what is underneath! https://twitter.com/WDWNT/status/617775527949139969/photo/1 Enjoy. BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 I can't believe they exposed her under carriage. But can someone explain to me what the mechanics are?I can't see it on my iPhone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Cool - thanks for sharing!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Still wonder how it's operated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FEARtheEERS 18 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 This would be very unmagical to see since I love the fairies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Thanks for sharing that! It doesn't look like there's a Segway under there. It looks pretty complicated. Those women do a good job operating these, as they look like they are gliding around effortlessly, but it probably takes a lot of skill to operate. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raptor954 2 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 It looks like a Segway, I have seen some that need no hands. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 It looks like a Segway, I have seen some that need no hands. I don't see anything that looks like a Segway. The no hands models are pretty simple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTHjuEpFPbM There's a lot more going on in that wire frame than that. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Are there handlers using radio control? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Are there handlers using radio control? No. Those fairies are very mobile, and interact with the other actors on foot in the parade. From what I've observed, the magic wands they hold in their hands are wired, and have something to do with the control of the carriages they're riding aboard. Seeing the framework in these photos leads me to believe that there are also foot controls. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keith_h 420 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 From the pictures and limited parades I have seen it is some type of Segway technology. My guess is the handle bars were replaced with some type of foot or leg control. Forward and backward movement is nothing more than leaning that way. They could have even replaced the typical turning controls for those that detect body lean and turn accordingly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 From the pictures and limited parades I have seen it is some type of Segway technology. My guess is the handle bars were replaced with some type of foot or leg control. Forward and backward movement is nothing more than leaning that way. They could have even replaced the typical turning controls for those that detect body lean and turn accordingly. The only problem with this theory is that there is no visible leaning done by the fairies. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 The only problem with this theory is that there is no visible leaning done by the fairies. TCDBut with that ridged frame you wouldn't see them shifting their legs, bending at the knee or using their feet to manipulate controllers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 I've tried to find other pix of this incident but no luck. Has anyone seen other pictures from this day. Maybe a different angle will give us some more info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 On a true Segway, you,really need a handlebar to hold on, balance, and to make it move.There are some imitations that have wheels/ rollers in the front and rear for balance.It's possible that the wand does the steering somehow, and the speed is controlled by a foot pedal. I would imagine that they are strapped in securely or they may even be seated or leaning onto a brace. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 On a true Segway, you,really need a handlebar to hold on, balance, and to make it move.There are some imitations that have wheels/ rollers in the front and rear for balance.It's possible that the wand does the steering somehow, and the speed is controlled by a foot pedal. I would imagine that they are strapped in securely or they may even be seated or leaning onto a brace.But as Keith said. Some type of Segway technology. I agree that's it is not a true Segway. I would venture to guess fairies rig have more than 2 wheels for stability. I really don't think it's that complicated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keith_h 420 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 All you need to do is shift the center of gravity and have some detectors. It wouldn't require much body movement to accomplish this. The big thing about the Segway isn't the parts that make it go forward, backwards or turn. The cool stuff is the technology that keeps stability while the rider's body movement would cause it to tip over under static conditions. It's too bad someone didn't have a telephoto lens they could zoom in on the carriage and get a really good shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 But with that ridged frame you wouldn't see them shifting their legs, bending at the knee or using their feet to manipulate controllers. I agree with this. So, it's not really Segway technology that's being used. On a true Segway, you,really need a handlebar to hold on, balance, and to make it move.There are some imitations that have wheels/ rollers in the front and rear for balance.It's possible that the wand does the steering somehow, and the speed is controlled by a foot pedal. I would imagine that they are strapped in securely or they may even be seated or leaning onto a brace. I agree with this too. Seeing that frame that is sitting there in the photos suggests that the performers are basically standing (or sitting) in a rigid apparatus that they are controlling via foot and a hand control. They are not balancing. They are strapped in to that heavy platform which is built so it won't tip. But as Keith said. Some type of Segway technology.I agree that's it is not a true Segway. I would venture to guess fairies rig have more than 2 wheels for stability.I really don't think it's that complicated. Those things definitely have more that two wheels. You can see the wheels when the fairies glide by. It looks like there are maybe two large wheels in the center which are used for moving forward and back, and then three or four smaller wheels around the perimeter of the frame which are merely there for balance. All you need to do is shift the center of gravity and have some detectors. It wouldn't require much body movement to accomplish this. The big thing about the Segway isn't the parts that make it go forward, backwards or turn. The cool stuff is the technology that keeps stability while the rider's body movement would cause it to tip over under static conditions. It's too bad someone didn't have a telephoto lens they could zoom in on the carriage and get a really good shot. If you watch these things move, there is no balancing being done by the performers or the machine they're riding. The photos show a solid, heavy frame that is built to be tip-proof. They ride these things over the tracks and other bumps in Main Street with no problem or hesitation to stop and balance. I don't think the performers could make the rig tip under static conditions. I really would have liked to see how they got the performer out of the frame. That would have revealed a lot. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 I really would have liked to see how they got the performer out of the frame. That would have revealed a lot. TCD Yes! I so agree! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 I have been searching and searching trying to find the video, someone had to video if! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 I have been searching and searching trying to find the video, someone had to video if! I can't believe you're still awake! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Could be a foot control just like a trolling motor for a boat. One foot and you control direction and speed while standing up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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