Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I'm not forgeting about it, but I just have no experience with it. I've seen the rise and fall of Pebble which looked like a cool concept, but where did that go? I'm not sure how Kickstarter works in detail, but is there any guarantee for the investors? I'll need to do some more reading on the subject... http://www.geektime.com/2017/04/19/these-kickstarter-scammers-took-the-money-and-ran-the-full-story-and-tips-on-how-to-avoid-being-a-victim-of-crowdfunding-fraud/ http://www.businessinsider.com/how-smartwatch-pioneer-pebble-lost-everything-2016-12 https://techcrunch.com/2015/10/14/a-1-5m-kickstarter-project-fails-leaving-most-backers-without-their-3d-printer/ https://www.wired.com/2017/05/keep-funding-kickstarter-projects/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253427 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to claiming "big numbers", but the batteries could actually be pouch-LiPos instead of cylindrical cells (like 18650's or others), that would make it possible to drop the weight (no metal casings) and size (no "empty" space between cells) of the packs, and they can give out far higher sustained amps and take fast charging better (way above 1C), apparently due to much lower internal resistance vs. cylindrical cells. Downside is that they're also far more dangerous than cylindrical cells Vee/EUC Extreme has been using LiPo-pouches in his custom wheels for a couple of years, and showed his chargers pumping several kilowatts into them during charging This video is over 2 years old (June 2015, charging 370Wh packs at half power, 30A per 8S pack): Well, you probably won't get much out of the video as it's in Finnish... as for the battery output, suffice to say that his custom packs have had enough power to vaporize mosfet legs in the past Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US69 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 @esaj Yeah...could be :-) But in his prototypes he used 18650 packs...can be seen in some/one photo. and the 7kg announced for the batterie weight matches exact the 18650's weight of a Gw/ks 1600/1680wh pack. 1600wh in lipos would be even heavier than 7kg. But we will see (or not)..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Tolhurst Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 1 hour ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: I guess there's just a few pieces of the puzzle missing here. We got a cool website, specifications, some videos, concept renderings, and word of mouth, but if someone is expecting hundreds of thousands or millions in investment money, people need to see credentials. Take for example this guy, Shane Colton: http://scolton.blogspot.ca/ He's got some papers he's written, specific projects he's worked on with the nth degree of detail, lots of evidence that he knows his stuff mathematically and from an engineering standpoint. There is a thesis paper for his degree at MIT. When it comes down to getting a bank loan to garnering venture capitalist interest, you need to show your goods and have some tangible proof of concept evidence more than just a couple of videos to get that rubber stamp of approval. If I asked 100 people who they would invest $5 million dollars with whether it be Shane or Austin just going by a website of information, who do you think they would tend to put their money towards? http://portfolioaustinmarhold.weebly.com/ Don't get me wrong - Austin may be the EUC designer savant we all are looking for, but to get solid backing in the numbers realistically needed to make this wheel a reality I think you need more than a couple of rider videos and 3D renderings. I believe it is probably possible to do this without giving too many secrets away? Is there a supplemental team of hardware and software engineers, control board and motor designers, business and legal advisors we're not seeing perhaps? 1 There is a Linkedin profile, I think it's the same person: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-marhold-0822a358 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 11 hours ago, Jonathan Tolhurst said: There is a Linkedin profile, I think it's the same person: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-marhold-0822a358 That is him - wow that really was a surprise I wasn't expecting: the most impressive set of qualifications I've ever seen on LinkedIn - he apparently learned everything he knows from the Royal Rangers and can even start a fire in two different ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 12 hours ago, KingSong69 said: But we will see (or not)..... 12 hours ago, Jonathan Tolhurst said: There is a Linkedin profile, I think it's the same person: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-marhold-0822a358 I thought he would at least have a degree in electrical engineering or something. But who needs that if you have a 25 mile canoe trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US69 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 i dont know if the latest video was allready posted: For me the best part starts at 0:23.... Come on! Serious? The title "entrepreneur" is missing :-) While this -without a doubt- looks like a nice working prototype (which has not the specs of the annouced wheel, as it is just 520wh batterie).... also -without a doubt- i think this video promotes more the geniality/narcissism of the producer than the seriousness of any kind of business. i would really wonder if this wheel ever leaves any kind of prototype state and gets over to a serial production. When i think what all is needed to set up a real OWN wheel -> pcb construction and development, shell molding, motor wiring , axle/pedal production, firmware programming, app programming etc etc) and that all produced in the USA, as stated? What you can do is: buy some third party pcb and motor, print some 3d plastic parts and screw them together...that would come out to what we see in the video....(again: which seams to drive fine, respect for that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I'm still cautiously hopeful. Not all great entrepreneurs require a university education, but it can take brilliant insights and ideas which others aren't able to see. If you watch that Elon Musk video, you'll see that he wasn't all that successful / interested in his university classes as he simply read the textbooks and wrote the exams without attending classes. He did get a physics degree which helped develop his thinking processes. http://www.investopedia.com/university/elon-musk-biography/elon-musk-early-life-and-education.asp He doesn't have an engineering background either, but look at what he has achieved. Tesla was poo poo'd by all the nay sayers, but he managed to pay back the government loan with $20 million in interest and bring Tesla back from near doom. His Spacex program has simply been amazing. If Austin has developed a product that lives up to the hype I'm all for it and backing him up. Surely there will be great obstacles and doubters, but I'll let the product speak for itself if and once it comes out. I just hope it doesn't go the way of the Lily drone where they received a lot of funding, but it just never got off the ground... https://www.recode.net/2017/1/16/14274254/lily-drone-lawsuit-refunds On a side note, check out this Lilium jet! Me want!!! https://www.recode.net/2017/8/21/16176038/flying-car-lilium-vtol-tesla-airbus-gett-uber Too bad there wasn't a passenger riding in it. Or at least a couple of 200 lb test dummies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 6 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: I'm still cautiously hopeful. Not all great entrepreneurs require a univeristy education, but it can take brilliant insights and ideas which others aren't able to see. If you watch that Elon Musk video, you'll see that he wasn't all that successful / interested at his university classes as he simply read the textbooks and wrote the exams without attending classes. He did get a physics degree which helped develop his thinking processes. http://www.investopedia.com/university/elon-musk-biography/elon-musk-early-life-and-education.asp He doesn't have an engineering background either, but look at what he has achieved. Tesla was poo poo'd by all the nay sayers, but he managed to pay back the government loan with $20 million in interest and bring Tesla back from near doom. His Spacex program has simply been amazing. If Austin has developed a product that lives up to the hype I'm all for it and backing him up. Surely there will be great obstacles and doubters, but I'll let the product speak for itself if and once it comes out. I just hope it doesn't go the way of the Lily drone where they received a lot of funding, but it just never got off the ground... I agree with you. But there are enough very nice, fun, wheels out there that I'm not interested in funding a startup project like this. If he ever brings this wheel to market where I can supply a credit card and get the wheel within a few weeks, I'm all in Until then, I have plenty of options to satisfy my itch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yourtoys7 Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Ive funded small start up and never again. You want my $, supply the product, till than I have my msuper to enjoy. Only time will tell what he can or cannot do. I hope for the best.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ir_fuel Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 On 17/09/2017 at 10:29 AM, meepmeepmayer said: I thought he would at least have a degree in electrical engineering or something. But who needs that if you have a 25 mile canoe trip! This linkedin profile is fake or a joke, right? Who in their right mind would put this on their linkedin profile: Quote 2 Methods of Starting a Fire without Marches honor date Sep 2009 honor issuer Royal Rangers honor description Learned at Survival Training Camp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 8 minutes ago, ir_fuel said: This linkedin profile is fake or a joke, right? Who in their right mind would put this on their linkedin profile: Either it's a joke or it says something about the quality of his extensive home education. There are a lot of strange items in this profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 You guys better watch it, you're messing with a Royal Ranger which is generally regarded as good or equal to an Eagle Scout according to people who go to a certain church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanghamP Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 My observation is the consensus of skeptical experts is they are rarely if ever wrong. Sometimes Apple computers or Edison is quoted as proving experts wrong, but all those guys had strong backgrounds in math and physics. A more common result of putting trust and money in someone like this would be Elizabeth Holmes whose radical tech consisted of diluting blood and turning up the gain on testing. Want to not have fun? Take a bunch of math and physics guys to a magic show, and watch them figure out almost instantly every single trick. It's the same thing here; this Pulse Glider depends on chumps to get funded using buzz words that make battery experts smirk. Anyone who doesn't have a basic education in their purported field isn't going to make any breakthroughs. Be most skeptical of this investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Maybe @John Eucist can comment as it seems he has had some direct interaction with Austin. Is he the real deal, John? Donald Lin, head of Gotway with Austin. Mr. Lin looks pretty young in this video, and look what he has managed to achieve... Any engineering info in his Linkedin (unless that's the wrong Mr. Lin)? https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldlin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ir_fuel Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 9 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Maybe @John Eucist can comment as it seems he has had some direct interaction with Austin. Is he the real deal, John? Donald Lin, head of Gotway with Austin. Mr. Lin looks pretty young in this video, and look what he has managed to achieve... Any engineering info in his Linkedin? https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldlin Well, ok .... but, can he start a fire without (sic) marches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Probably not, but he can take $20,000 and start a very popular EUC company that sells wheels for thousands of dollars (how much is a Gotway Monster?) and release new rides every year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 8 hours ago, ir_fuel said: Who in their right mind would put this on their linkedin profile: Who in their right mind would show a (presumably off the shelf) circuit board as badly bodged as this on their design page: http://portfolioaustinmarhold.weebly.com/design-process.html i wouldn't put a board with dry joints, huge blobs of solder and cut wires with unravelling insulating tape in a model plane let alone trust my life to riding it - but above all else, if I did do a job as badly as that, I would absolutely emphatically not let anyone else see it. Something like that gives the impression that there is a mountain between his aspirations and his ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Eucist Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 12 hours ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Maybe @John Eucist can comment as it seems he has had some direct interaction with Austin. Is he the real deal, John? Real deal in terms of what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 11 hours ago, Keith said: Who in their right mind would show a (presumably off the shelf) circuit board as badly bodged as this on their design page: http://portfolioaustinmarhold.weebly.com/design-process.html i wouldn't put a board with dry joints, huge blobs of solder and cut wires with unravelling insulating tape in a model plane let alone trust my life to riding it - but above all else, if I did do a job as badly as that, I would absolutely emphatically not let anyone else see it. Something like that gives the impression that there is a mountain between his aspirations and his ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 15 hours ago, John Eucist said: Real deal in terms of what? Real deal as in terms of do you think he has the ability to design a world class EUC that will blow all others out of the water with respect to motor wattage rating, battery claims and capability? Besides some enthusiastic appearance on videos, some website info, and Nevnut's take on the prototype, could you give us some more insight into the man behind the Pulse Glider if you have any? Is there a lot more than meets the eye? Does he have the experience and contacts to be able to coordinate such an ambitious project? Reading over Donald Lin's bio and watching the interview with him, he was able to recruit engineers and designers to help him. He once must have only had some experience under his belt working with Rockwheel and not much more, but he had the contacts, drive, and insight into creating a pretty popular company. I guess I'm just trying to help gather some more background information to assist Austin Marhold and everyone interested in the Kickstarter campaign once it gets going. I think we all want to know if he is the next "Tony Stark" of the EUC world or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 4 hours ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: I guess I'm just trying to help gather some more background information to assist Austin Marhold and everyone interested in the Kickstarter campaign once it gets going. I think we all want to know if he is the next "Tony Stark" of the EUC world or not. Is your spy satellite down again? Well at least my wife and I can sleep better tonight! Austin Marhold has the best audience here on the forum to educate members about his product and company. If his presentation is sound and the logistics behind his venture are well thought out there just may be investors lurking amongst us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 On 9/18/2017 at 4:47 PM, Keith said: Who in their right mind would show a (presumably off the shelf) circuit board as badly bodged as this on their design page: http://portfolioaustinmarhold.weebly.com/design-process.html i wouldn't put a board with dry joints, huge blobs of solder and cut wires with unravelling insulating tape in a model plane let alone trust my life to riding it - but above all else, if I did do a job as badly as that, I would absolutely emphatically not let anyone else see it. Something like that gives the impression that there is a mountain between his aspirations and his ability. You definitely have a good point, but I think we all were a little bit wreckless and carefree at one point (or several) in our youth so I won't judge the man by his soldering skills in one photo or how he presents himself on a webpage too much. It looks like he soldered on some quick connectors so the motor wires could be removed easily? In any case I'd write it off as just an early experimental testing board photo. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking that there might be something to this Pulse Glider. I do seem to be grasping at straws here to back my first impressions up. Maybe he is more a conceptual guy who has good contacts in the industry to help him design what he is looking for. I know it's best to protect design elements so it's maybe it's all supposed to be kept hush hush, but still, if one is seeking serious backing and Kickstarter money, you really need a bit more proof to go on? Some proof of concept graphs, motor testing results, stuff like that I would think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve454 Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 7 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: In any case I'd just write it off as just an early experimental testing board photo. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking that there might be something to this Pulse Glider. That's what I am thinking. You have to admit, the website is well made with multiple photos and pages, along with video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Eucist Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 5 hours ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Real deal as in terms of do you think he has the ability to design a world class EUC that will blow all others out of the water with respect to motor wattage rating, battery claims and capability? Besides some enthusiastic appearance on videos, some website info, and Nevnut's take on the prototype, could you give us some more insight into the man behind the Pulse Glider if you have any? Is there a lot more than meets the eye? Does he have the experience and contacts to be able to coordinate such an ambitious project? Reading over Donald Lin's bio and watching the interview with him, he was able to recruit engineers and designers to help him. He once must have only had some experience under his belt working with Rockwheel and not much more, but he had the contacts, drive, and insight into creating a pretty popular company. I guess I'm just trying to help gather some more background information to assist Austin Marhold and everyone interested in the Kickstarter campaign once it gets going. I think we all want to know if he is the next "Tony Stark" of the EUC world or not. He's been very passionate about designing eucs (for a long time) and he has live in China for quite some time for this specific purpose so I believe he should have all the contacts he needs. That said, I can't make any predictions on his ability to succeed on his "ambitious project" as I have not studied it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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