Gizmodo
Sometimes a bike is just a bike... there's no photoshopping going on here, guys. This is Uno, of course, a segway/motorcycle mashup shown publicly for the first time at the recent Toronto National Motorbike show. Technically it has two wheels, but they're right next to each other and it does balance on them under its own power.
Built by Ben J. Poss Gulak, it's an electric vehicle that uses a similar sort of microgyro-motor system as the Segway, but with two gyros: one for forward and back, and one for turning. Its got just one control —a power switch— and everything else is done by leaning, which must make for one hell of an adrenaline-packed ride. It's the culmination of a number of vehicle projects by Ben, and uses electric propulsion for eco-friendliness, since Ben visited China where he found that "the smog was so thick, we never saw the sun."
Ben designed the 120-lb vehicle himself, using Google SketchUp to help with the plans as he couldn't afford professional software. How does it perform? We don't know, but we suspect it's a lot of fun. And though Ben got some advice from expert motorbike modders, and a robotics expert for the gyro programming, he deserves a round of applause— he's only 18 years old. And that's just amazing. [Motorcycle Mojo via Make —Thanks Daniel]
Comments
Damn.
A really cool achievement and he threw a shroud on it to make it look cool. Hes got brains and style.
It looks awful uncomfortable to ride though.
Want!
Two things I'd like to know:
1. Insurance on this thing.
2. Job options still available to you once you've fallen off at 100mph.
Who needs a helmet?
It looks a little uncomfortable to ride. Sort of like you are always going to face plant. But, I bet it gets great gas mileage.
Mitsuo!
Like the product or not, I have to admire the guy. I only wish I had pursued half of my crazy schemes as fiercely.
Ages ago, Piers Anthony wrote a shitty novel that featured this thing (called The Ring, I think). But what would you expect from a guy who wrote a series of books about fucking unicorns. "Fucking" as in verb, not adjective.
I like how the foot pegs double as a kickstand. Totally awesome!
@Hvedhrungr: Yeah, you'll never be able to leave your garage. Also, I don't think I'd trust the Segway Software/Gyros at high speed, even if they are redundant.
@Hvedhrungr:
insurance doesn't apply as this is not a street legal vehicle. Good health insurance is your best bet.
Props to the maker. It even LOOKS good.
@LoganSix: Its...ummm....ELECTRIC! Great gas mileage is an understatement.
for an 18 year old, totally amazing!
...and then a 10mph wind comes.
love the design, although i wonder how it performs in terms of acceleration and braking.
@chaoslink: His body work is amazing too. he's a good tinker/engineer, and a designer.
Wow, and I thought that riding a Segway would be cool. That is amazing that an eighteen year old kid can do something like this and we're stuck paying $3.50+ at the pump when there are plenty of smart engineers to make other modes of travel.
@nutbastard: I didn't know good health insurance existed. Btw, did you go snowboarding with the Giz peeps?
It needs a side mounted gatling gun, with a laser sight, to complete the package.
These things were featured in the anime "Venus Wars" ... pretty cool ap.
[en.wikipedia.org]
Ugh-Goosh!
@BasicBlack: Hey! I read that book! Along with the entire "Xanth" series too. That was some great reading. Granted, I wasn't even in high school yet, back before I discovered what would become my lifelong quest - boobies.
@johnnyabnormal:
yes i did, and it was awesome. as far as health insurance goes:
Office Visit $15
Specialist $35
Emergency Room $100
Urgent Care $35
Rx Tier 1/2/3 $10/$20/$40
Inpatient $200
Outpatient 10%
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, $15/week. ER coverage is UNLIMITED (Most policies top out at one million dollars)
@FubarGuy:
Coincidentally, that was Piers Anthony's lifelong quest, too. If you ever want to read something truly disturbing, pick up a copy of his Firefly. Nothing like a protracted, graphic description of "consensual" sex between a 6 year old and an adult male to make you admire an author.
Math problem:
If this vehicle weighs 120lb and the average weight of an American male is 190lb, how far sideways will this thing flip and fly when you get yourself T-boned?
There's gotta be a youtube video of this somewhere.
Look's like it's the exact same design as the Bombardier Embrio:
[douglas.typepad.com]
@BasicBlack:
Geez, with hang-ups like that, he makes Heinlein look like the Dalai Lama. *shivers*
With the design, I think it looks good, but I have to question the use of what looks like a gas tank on an electric bike. Have we become so reliant on gas that when it's no longer needed, it will still show up in designs? Kind of like an appendix?
@theorie:
this has two wheels, though, presumably for turning in place. the Bombardier has only one wheel.
Fail is pending
What is the intended application of this machine?
Motorcycle for suicidal geeks?
Math Answer:
What's the mass and velocity of the device that hits this thing?
It's not really that different than a motorcycle- or more appripriately, a scooter. An average (non cruiser) motorcycle is probably double to triple that weight. And vs. a large road barge, that's still not a neccessarily significant advantage.
@uncleruss:
theres an image of the 'gas tank' removed... it appears to house some of the electronics (caps or transformers, i can't tell)
Ben J. Poss Gulak, you are a god among mortals.
The gas tank is part of the saddle- the waist wraps around it , and it's molded so that when you can tuck your entire body over it for higher speed postions.
This is one of those cases where the form of a comfortable ride happens to meet a nice happy medium with the function of the gas tank. I'm sure in this case, it's filled with electronics- but it's probably happily more of a functional design choice than purely aesthetic.
@nutbastard:
Yup. At least Heinlein's characters waited until they were adults to bang their moms.
@styrofoam:
I'd say the average motorcycle is 6-8 times that weight. A typical geezer-piloted Harley weighs 1000 lbs.
Too much torsion in and around the groin area. -- Ouch, don't balance like that!
The Spiral Zone ([en.wikipedia.org]) a cartoon from the 80's had cycles like this and a monocycle called Rimfire. A picture of the Monoseed is here [spiral-zone.com] . Perhaps this will bring back memories.
@JustEaton: Wind wouldn't affect this thing much more than a motorcycle. There's still the one wheel (yeah, okay it's really 2) and the laws of physics to balance it when the wheel is spinning.
@DeadWriter:
I thought Rimfire was slang for Anal Herpes...
This kid is going to be rich! I can guarantee it. In the USA we don't use too many motorcycles, but most people in Asia depend on motorcycles for most of their transportation needs because they live in such a crowded place. I would definitely get this invention patented if I was him.
@BasicBlack:
...and Lazarus waited until the female clones of himself were pubescent to have sex with them... but yeah, that Piers Anthony guy really lowers the bar when it comes to who you consider a moral compass...
Brilliant project all round!
I think his "ulterior motive" has to do with Global Warming and the fact that ice rinks are disappearing at an alarming rate here in Toronto.
This is the ride of a Roadhockey Warrior!
Ben rulez!
I did a back-of-the-evelope braking calculation. At maximum braking from 60 MPH it will take 3 years to stop.
For those times when you want to look like as much as a tool as possible.
What are the advantages over a traditional two wheeled setup?
So if this thing stalls/malfunctions you face plant full speed?
well, sign me up.
Very impressive achievement, but I wonder if it's possible to ride the thing without looking like you're having sex with it.
@theorie:
It does look a lot like the Embrio.
Though on the other hand, the Embrio is just a concept (as far as I know) and this kid actually built his.
Meh, all these littler cars and tiny bikes. What, I ask, are we going to do when Mad Max time comes? I can't see Lord Humungus on one of these.
Seriously, though, this deserves much props. Even the guy was in his 30s, I'd still be impressed, but 18? Awesome.
@nutbastard: By the way you drive, I can see why unlimited is the way to go...haha.
@Navin R Johnson: Are you sure you carried the 1 somewhere in there? I got 2 days, but that's assuming you tip over backwards and drag your ass on the 'crete.
@makanai: You're right. We have to kill Mel Gibson NOW!