Uno electric unicycle gets spiffy new body, still terrifying

Last we saw the Uno electric unicycle it was looking very much like the prototype it was, but as you can see above, it seems that the teenage engineers behind it have been doing anything but slacking in the ensuing months. As Motorcycle Mojo reports, the third incarnation of the vehicle recently made its debut at the 2008 National Motorcycle Show in Toronto, with it sporting some custom-made wheels, a stylin' new body, and a few changes under the hood as well. That latter bit apparently even included a trip to a robotics and gyro expert in California, who helped to fine tune the two gyros the Uno uses for turning and forward and backward motion (something you probably want to get right). There's still no word as to when or if the vehicle might actually enter production, however, but you can at least now get a great look at it courtesy of the generous batch of pics Motorcycle Mojo has provided at the link below.

[Via Digg, thanks Daniel]

[Jordan @ Apr 25th 2008 12:30PM]

Jesus, and I thought unicycling in the skateparks was badass...

[Ryan Trevisol @ Apr 25th 2008 1:45PM]

break·ing (brā'kĭng)
n.
A form of urban dance involving styles such as rocking, popping, and b-boying, usually performed to funk. Also called break dancing.

brake (brāk)
v., braked, brak·ing, brakes.
v.tr.
To reduce the speed of with or as if with a brake.

I would think that braking on this thing would result in something breaking, most likely your face.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Apr 25th 2008 1:46PM]

Hmmm . . . I clicked reply to the post below this one. I think the comment system is hosed again. Alas, the snarkyness of my comment has been diminished.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 25th 2008 1:49PM]

"Gyros"? Come on guys, gyros are those tasty greek lamb/beef wraps. Gyroscopes keep it balanced.

[Norm @ Apr 25th 2008 4:54PM]

Why on earth would you think that unicycling at a skatepark was badass?

[couchpundit @ Apr 25th 2008 12:32PM]

As if your regular crotch rocket wasn't dangerous enough!

I wonder what breaking is like with so little rubber on the road?

[nickels @ Apr 25th 2008 12:35PM]

surely there is same amount of rubber on the road, as it looks like there is two wheels side by side ??

[Jordan @ Apr 25th 2008 12:44PM]

Is it even intended for main road use? Could anybody find how fast it goes? I couldn't find it anywhere.

[ddub @ Apr 25th 2008 1:01PM]

The previous prototype had a top speed of 40mph.

[ZeitgeistXIII @ Apr 25th 2008 1:24PM]

Geez cant you find something usefull to do rather than critize and make ill informed statements about things you obviously no nothing about?

[Jordan @ Apr 25th 2008 12:35PM]

I'm awestruck by your skills.

[Jordan @ Apr 25th 2008 12:47PM]

lol, they deleted his post.

[Sean @ Apr 25th 2008 12:49PM]

and we look like idiots.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 25th 2008 12:54PM]

Should Engadget just edit the posts instead of removing them? You know, the whole message is replaced by "Admin Edit: Spam" instead of removing the comment and making the replies look stupid?

[riggs @ Apr 25th 2008 1:36PM]

yeah? well whats my excuse for replying AFTER the post was removed....yup thats right, none.

[looseinthedeuce @ Apr 25th 2008 1:51PM]

It'd be nice if they left the post but replaced the text with a message: "This post had been deleted."

My post below also now makes no sense

[looseinthedeuce @ Apr 25th 2008 12:36PM]

@Wow

"Wow", indeed

[finnith @ Apr 25th 2008 12:39PM]

That's some awesome looking motorcycle.

[StreetStealth @ Apr 25th 2008 1:32PM]

After some reflection, I guess I don't really mind if the future looks like a sci-fi movie from 1995.

[Shadowfox952 @ Apr 25th 2008 12:45PM]

It'd be trippy if you could take a bunch of them and link them all together like the freaking power rangers.

[blueeyesm @ Apr 25th 2008 3:18PM]

At least doing that in motorcycle helmets won't make you look as bad.

Seriously though, if the safety level of these designs were increased (airbags), it may make for an effective, compact, single-user commuting vehicle in already dense urban environments.

It also could significantly cut down on the the volume per vehicle used on highways, at least in the summertime.

I hope they keep at it and are able to convince the public to consider them.

[El Taco @ Apr 25th 2008 5:14PM]

@blueeye

all airbags would do for you in this thing is make you go flying backward. Then that would make you lean backward, thus making the machine back up rapidly, and crashing into the car behind you.

[couchpundit @ Apr 25th 2008 10:23PM]

I think you mean the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers--the Power Ranger rides alone because he lacks l33t morphin sk1lz.

[DD @ Apr 26th 2008 7:29PM]

@blueeyesm: If you're trying to reduce overall volumes on highways, a unicycle is not it. Motorcycles are already effective and compact vehicles that can have storage and even a single passenger in some cases. Like you say, the trick is the safety features. Manufacturers are working on airbag-equipped riding suits.

Wearing a modern helmet and appropriate safety gear (think: Aerostitch suit, thick boots, armored gloves) offers a tremendous amount of protection, but nothing will ever replace driver awareness. See "The Hurt Report" here: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html Two thirds of cycle/other vehicle collisions are due to the other vehicle's driver failing to yield right of way.

Why did they fail to yield right of way? Half of them could not see the motorcycle due to glare or other vehicles obscuring their view of the motorcycle. I'm sure the rest of them were simply unaware of motorcycles in general, as the majority of the public is. Drivers do not look for motorcycles, and you don't see what you're not looking for. Most drives just DON'T SEE THE MOTORCYCLIST.

The only way that our society as a whole could increase small vehicle use is through education and participation in the scheme.

And reducing that profile even further by riding a unicycle just doesn't seem like a very good idea at all.

Not like that unicycle isn't cool, because it IS! Very cool. Just, not cool to try to push as a viable "replacement' vehicle for the masses.

[601210 @ Apr 28th 2008 7:39AM]

@DD
Damn, you're boring.

[Sean @ Apr 25th 2008 12:46PM]

i believe something terrible happened out there.

[helloUser @ Apr 25th 2008 12:46PM]

will it blend?

[mushrooshi @ Apr 25th 2008 12:56PM]

Lets test it ,with you inside!

[helloUser @ Apr 25th 2008 1:08PM]

im not a midget

[Val£ntine @ Apr 25th 2008 1:39PM]

why so defensive eh?

wouldnt riding it be a tad shaky though?

[kissarmy @ Apr 25th 2008 12:47PM]

....so there you are doing 50mph. you slam on the brake and lock the wheel. - what stops it from rolling end over end?

[Ping @ Apr 25th 2008 12:57PM]

Your face, as it slams into the ground.

[Mike @ Apr 25th 2008 12:58PM]

"....so there you are doing 50mph. you slam on the brake and lock the wheel. - what stops it from rolling end over end?"

The car bumper in front of you that you tried to stop for.

[Terpy @ Apr 25th 2008 1:25PM]

@ Ping
Thanks for the laugh, I had to vote you up for that one.

[Ian @ Apr 25th 2008 2:05PM]

really good anti-lock brakes? if not that would blow

[Onetruebill @ Apr 25th 2008 3:00PM]

So you are saying you would do 50 on one of these?

Engadget, can we get some sponsorship for Kissarmy??
It will make a great youtube clip.

[MC @ Apr 25th 2008 4:28PM]

I'm going to guess it shifts forward when you are riding it, then jumps back to somewhere near this position (in pic) when you have to brake hard.

[Rock Stone @ Apr 25th 2008 4:27PM]

Since you have to lean back to brake, I would hope gravity and mass of the driver would beat out the friction of the tires on the road.

Kick a knee out, lean to the side and... Powerslide!!

[Jim Lipsey @ Apr 25th 2008 4:32PM]

I don't believe it has brakes. If it's like the Segway, in order to slow dow you lean back and the motors attempt to slow the wheels enough to bring you back to equilibrium.

[Niraj @ Apr 25th 2008 12:47PM]

Looks incredible, but wouldn't a gyro failure almost always be fatal? It can't be that unlikely for that to happen, either.

[porkandbeans @ Apr 25th 2008 12:57PM]

dee plane! dee plane!

[darkstar @ Apr 25th 2008 12:59PM]

they really should figure out how to stabilize a motocycle! so you'll never have to put your foot down at a red light :)

[Xboxman @ Apr 25th 2008 1:03PM]

Training wheels?

[Ian @ Apr 25th 2008 2:06PM]

then isnt that considered a car?

[Steve @ Apr 29th 2008 7:15AM]

They have, by adding a third wheel. Google for Piaggio MP3 or the Gilera Fuoco.

[amexesix @ Apr 25th 2008 1:00PM]

I can imagine someone doing like 30-40mph, then something suddenly appears in the road, probably a pedestrian eye googling your deformed motorcycle, and you hit the breaks causing you to slam your face to the ground in front of him. Probably the most interesting event that can happen to someone crossing the street...

[MC @ Apr 25th 2008 3:06PM]

I'm going to guess it shifts forward when you are riding it, then jumps back to somewhere near this position (in pic) when you have to brake hard.

[topmounter @ Apr 25th 2008 1:37PM]

It's a Segway for the crotch-rocket crowd.

[Gary Lee @ Apr 25th 2008 1:16PM]

wasn't this some Robot for the kid in M.A.S.K ?

[w00t @ Apr 25th 2008 1:18PM]

No way I'm getting on one of these, I'd feel safer crawling across broken glass with my flys unzipped!
Now watching someone else ride it, sure! :)