The Nimbl, living up to its name, features hubless wheels with a short wheelbase for increased maneuverability. But that's not the only unique feature of the chair's design.

The Nimbl also sports a motorized seat that can lift the operator several feet in the air, activated by a control panel in the chair's armrest. Though its currently only a concept, it wouldn't hurt current wheelchair makers to take note of the Nimbl's form or its function. [designboom]

Obviously, if the lights are not melting snow, motorists are going to have trouble seeing the signals after a storm. So far, this problem has resulted in dozens of accidents and at least one death. Solutions are being tested in several states that range from weather shields to heating elements to water-repellent coatings. In the meantime, city crews must continue to stay on top of the problem and dust off the lights by hand. [Yahoo]

The makers of the Copenhagen Wheel from M.I.T.'s SENSEable City Laboratory claim that the new features mark the advent of "Biking 2.0," a new era based on smarter bikes and easier rides. The wheel is certainly a step in that direction; it includes sensors for detecting distance, speed, direction, all of which are beamed via Bluetooth to the rider's iPhone. The wheel also includes a built-in lock that sends the rider a text if tampered with.

But the most notable feature of the Copenhagen Wheel is its KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery System, a mechanism by which energy from braking is stored up for later use, giving the rider a boost when going up a hill or speeding through traffic. Some bicycle purists have already dismissed the wheel as a novelty while others suggest that M.I.T. has succeeded in reinventing the wheel. [MIT via Inhabitat]

Neon (or more likely, fiber optic) framing aside, the Artikcar sounds like it'd actually pretty fun to ride. Powered (obviously) by pedal, the Artikcar is steered by passenger leaning, rather than any kind of hand-control mechanism.

Be the star of your very own rolling neon sign. It's what you've always wanted. [Deezen]

So it's a hell of a lot cooler and more powerful than a scooter, moped or Segway—but the 1300 watt lithium ion-powered motor will only take you between 18 and 31 miles on a one hour charge (depending on weight). That's not enough to make it a serious mode of transportation, but if you live in an urban area it might make some sense. You don't need a parking spot and you can ride it in the same areas as a traditional bicycle. Of course, that kind of flexibility won't come cheap. Expect to pay €5877 ($8742) for the Grace E-Bike when it ships in January. [Grace via DVICE]

The module relays this information to your GPS unit via Bluetooth where you will be able to view a set of customizable gauges that provide details on things like fuel economy, RPMs, throttle position, intake manifold pressure, coolant temperature, intake air temperature, and emissions.

Awesome? Yeah, sure. Will it save Garmin from destruction at the hands of a possible Google navigation juggernaut? No, probably not. [Cnet via NaviGadget via Ubergizmo via DVICE]

Yes, for a mere $14,000 and a good bit of dignity, the Air Board will zip you along concrete, asphalt or grass at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour on a 20 centimeter buffer of air. Hovering over water, sand, stones, or dirt-filled areas, however, is impossible due to the vacuum mechanism by which the Air Board hovers. Should probably scratch grass off the "can-hover" list then. That leaves you with drive ways and skateparks where you can be ridiculed by your own kids or someone else's. The 1.3 gallon gas capacity is only good for one hour of hovering, so it'll all be over before you know it. Probably for the better. [Likecool]

In other words, AIDA is like your highway helper. A robot pal you can bond with on those long lonely trips. Kind of like a naggy, whiny version of Kitt.

To identify the set of goals the driver would like to achieve, AIDA analyses the driver's mobility patterns, keeping track of common routes and destinations. AIDA draws on an understanding of the city beyond what can be seen through the windshield, incorporating real-time event information and knowledge of environmental conditions, as well as commercial activity, tourist attractions, and residential areas.

"When it merges knowledge about the city with an understanding of the driver's priorities and needs, AIDA can make important inferences," explains Assaf Biderman, associate director of the SENSEable City Lab. "Within a week AIDA will have figured out your home and work location. Soon afterwards the system will be able to direct you to your preferred grocery store, suggesting a route that avoids a street fair-induced traffic jam. On the way AIDA might recommend a stop to fill up your tank, upon noticing that you are getting low on gas," says Biderman. "AIDA can also give you feedback on your driving, helping you achieve more energy efficiency and safer behavior."

Oh, and did I mention that it emotes with facial expressions? I have plenty of relatives that are perfectly willing to bitch about my driving as it is. On the other hand, maybe AIDA will qualify a an additional passenger on HOV lanes—then maybe it can tag along.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — MIT researchers and designers are developing the Affective Intelligent Driving Agent (AIDA) - a new in-car personal robot that aims to change the way we interact with our car. The project is a collaboration between the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab, MIT's SENSEable City Lab and the Volkswagen Group of America's Electronics Research Lab.

"With the ubiquity of sensors and mobile computers, information about our surroundings is ever abundant. AIDA embodies a new effort to make sense of these great amounts of data, harnessing our personal electronic devices as tools for behavioral support," comments professor Carlo Ratti, director of the SENSEable City Lab. "In developing AIDA we asked ourselves how we could design a system that would offer the same kind of guidance as an informed and friendly companion."

AIDA communicates with the driver through a small robot embedded in the dashboard. "AIDA builds on our long experience in building sociable robots," explains professor Cynthia Breazeal, director of the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab. "We are developing AIDA to read the driver's mood from facial expression and other cues and respond in a socially appropriate and informative way."

AIDA communicates in a very immediate way: with the seamlessness of a smile or the blink of an eye. Over time, the project envisions that a kind of symbiotic relationship develops between the driver and AIDA, whereby both parties learn from each other and establish an affective bond.

To identify the set of goals the driver would like to achieve, AIDA analyses the driver's mobility patterns, keeping track of common routes and destinations. AIDA draws on an understanding of the city beyond what can be seen through the windshield, incorporating real-time event information and knowledge of environmental conditions, as well as commercial activity, tourist attractions, and residential areas.

"When it merges knowledge about the city with an understanding of the driver's priorities and needs, AIDA can make important inferences," explains Assaf Biderman, associate director of the SENSEable City Lab. "Within a week AIDA will have figured out your home and work location. Soon afterwards the system will be able to direct you to your preferred grocery store, suggesting a route that avoids a street fair-induced traffic jam. On the way AIDA might recommend a stop to fill up your tank, upon noticing that you are getting low on gas," says Biderman. "AIDA can also give you feedback on your driving, helping you achieve more energy efficiency and safer behavior."

AIDA was developed in partnership with Audi, a premium brand of the Volkswagen Group, and the Volkswagen Group of America's Electronics Research Lab. The AIDA team is directed by Professor Cynthia Breazeal, Carlo Ratti, and Assaf Biderman. The SENSEable City Lab team includes team leader Giusy di Lorenzo and includes Francisco Pereira, Fabio Pinelli, Pedro Correia, E Roon Kang, Jennifer Dunnam, and Shaocong Zhou. The Personal Robots Group's technical and aesthetic team includes Mikey Siegel, Fardad Faridi and Ryan Wistort as well as videographers Paula Aguilera and Jonathan Williams. Chuhee Lee and Charles Lee represent the Volkswagen Group of America's Electronics Research Lab.

[MIT]

When the the device is in one piece, you can control turns by shifting your weight, but when the sides are split up you're supposed to lift your feet and step around as if truly on stilts. Great, everything already look unstable and you want me to lift a foot without a nice soft pile of snow to fall face-first into?

Thankfully, neither Nissan nor the National Advanced Institute of Science and Technology appear to be in any rush to actually market this thing. [Plastic Pals via Engadget]

The eniCycle's electric-powered 1000 watt motor kicks into gear as you lean forward—similar to riding a Segway. The gyroscopes help you stay upright while measuring your vertical angle 100 times a second.

So far Polutnik has built two prototypes, and is looking for big business to help him sell the thing. I hope he does. [Enicycle via Core77 via DVICE]

The four-passenger personal rapid transport (PRT) vehicles shuttle people from Terminal 5 to one of the airport's parking lots. It's as easy as hopping in, entering your destination on the touchscreen and sitting back while the vehicle navigates specially constructed mini-roads at 25mph to your lot of choice.

If successful, the 18-car system will be expanded with nearly 10x the funding, allowing air travelers to reach local hotels without traditional taxis. And while it all sounds fine and dandy, we hear these automated Johnny Cab drivers can sorta be dicks.
[Mirror via Fast Company via BBG]

I mean come on. Facts are facts. Smaller footprint. Easier maneuverability in the tight spots. Folds down for easy storage in the closet when that hot date comes over for a digestif. Brisk 13 mph top speed. Completely portable. Battery powered. This is assuming, of course, you give two shits about the Segway to begin with.

Negatives? Blatantly obvious balance issues abound, sure, but the designers can work those our with Woz's money help, right? Otherwise what's stopping you from falling like a tree when you come to a standstill?

Too bad it's just a concept at the moment; a mere whiff of a hipster's passing dream. This will change though. Segway culture demands it be so. [James Dyson Award via Design Blog]

Designed by a 24-year-old student from London, the bike's claim to greatness is its ability to fold within the circumference one of its wheels. He claims he designed it because he "couldn't find a folding bicycle I liked," and he "wanted something that could take a bit of punishment and that you could have fun with." I'm with him until the "take a bit of punishment" part, because this thing looks about as trailworthy as a collapsible lawn chair.

You might also notice that the pedals don't seem to be connected to anything, and, well, you'd be right. As someone who has watched this breakdown clip about 30 times, completely mesmerized, I'm going to say that's a minor technicality. [Sky News]

When you buy a house, one of the first things you realize is how useful owning a truck can be. The Tow-n-Stow serves a similar purpose, but it appears to be manageable enough to be towed by a car. Plus, you don't have to store it outside—just stand it up and use it as a storage unit in the garage. Taking all of the stuff off of it to convert it back into a trailer is probably a pain in the ass, but that's a small price to pay for the versatility. However, I can't say the same for the outrageous $2495 price tag. [Tow-n-Stow via Red Ferret via Coolbuzz]

Other features include an EverClear No-Fog faceshield and an anti-scratch retractable SpeedView sun visor. Truth be told, this certainly isn't the first modular helmet out there. However, at $270-$280 the Scorpion would be far cheaper than something like BMW's System 6—although the latter has advanced noise canceling features and integrated Bluetooth. [Scorpion via Jalopnik]

The outside wheels have the ability to maneuver on a wide variety of surfaces and rotate independently of the board. The designers expect their wheel/board setup will give users the feeling of "pushing on a wave continuously". Hopefully there are plans to manufacture the Loop-In soon, though I doubt it will be able to replicate the thrill of getting barreled. [Tuvie]

[Break]

Seriously, I can't even imagine what this would do to a motorcyclist riding nearby. Of course, this isn't the first time some jackass annoyed their neighbors with a mod like this.

According to Dorel Juvenile Group, makers of Air Protect (which is a system technically comprised of those discs you see surrounding the sea's head area), one in three child crash deaths is from a side impact collision. So the company developed what is essentially a constantly deployed airbag, or a super soft pillow capable of absorbing the a large impact and effectively extending the amount of time a child's head has to stop in an impact situation.

We know it might not sound impressive, but when set on a table you can punch the hell out of one of these discs and not hurt your hand. (You can check out the clip at about 1:50 in here.)

The technology will be available in at least one Safety 1st product at Babies R Us later this year. And while it's tough to know how well the technology will work until it's tested publicly available, our own Wilson Rothman, expert in everything babies (because he has one) points out that Safety 1st isn't generally considered a top tier baby seat company. The rest of us, haters of all small animals that are neither feline, canine or python in nature, would honestly not know. [Safety 1st]

This twin engine produces 100lbs of thrust by burning a mix of gasoline and kerosene—no need for jet fuel. Consisting of two 50lb engines that can each reportedly thrust a bike forward at 75mph, nothing but trouble can await those who install this twice-as-powerful, 140 decibel engine that glows "red hot" while burning 1.5 gallons of fuel per mile.

Buy your pulsejet engine now on eBay for $1200, or make a lowball offer and spend the rest on life insurance. You really can't go wrong. [eBay via OregonLive via Gizmowatch]The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.