A weight-controlled, motorized vehicle can be accelerated in either
direction, steered, or decelerated without hand controls and without
repositioning of a rider situated atop the vehicle. Like a skateboard,
the vehicle is normally ridden by a rider standing upon a platform on top
of the vehicle with one foot in front of the other. The vehicle is
propelled forward when the rider increases weight on the front portion of
the platform and backward when weight is increased on the rear portion.
The vehicle is steered like a skateboard, by tilting the platform from
side-to-side. An improved drive system utilizes a single front drive
wheel to power and steer the vehicle. The drive system eliminates need of
a flexible power transmission coupling such as a U-joint or
constant-velocity joint. It also eliminates need of the differential
mechanism normally required for two laterally spaced drive wheels.