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]
posted Apr 25th 2008 12:24PM
Jesus, and I thought unicycling in the skateparks was badass...
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.
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.
"Gyros"? Come on guys, gyros are those tasty greek lamb/beef wraps. Gyroscopes keep it balanced.
Why on earth would you think that unicycling at a skatepark was badass?
As if your regular crotch rocket wasn't dangerous enough!
I wonder what breaking is like with so little rubber on the road?
surely there is same amount of rubber on the road, as it looks like there is two wheels side by side ??
Is it even intended for main road use? Could anybody find how fast it goes? I couldn't find it anywhere.
The previous prototype had a top speed of 40mph.
Geez cant you find something usefull to do rather than critize and make ill informed statements about things you obviously no nothing about?
I'm awestruck by your skills.
lol, they deleted his post.
and we look like idiots.
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?
yeah? well whats my excuse for replying AFTER the post was removed....yup thats right, none.
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
@Wow
"Wow", indeed
That's some awesome looking motorcycle.
After some reflection, I guess I don't really mind if the future looks like a sci-fi movie from 1995.
It'd be trippy if you could take a bunch of them and link them all together like the freaking power rangers.
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.
@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.
I think you mean the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers--the Power Ranger rides alone because he lacks l33t morphin sk1lz.
@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.
@DD
Damn, you're boring.
i believe something terrible happened out there.
will it blend?
Lets test it ,with you inside!
im not a midget
why so defensive eh?
wouldnt riding it be a tad shaky though?
....so there you are doing 50mph. you slam on the brake and lock the wheel. - what stops it from rolling end over end?
Your face, as it slams into the ground.
"....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.
@ Ping
Thanks for the laugh, I had to vote you up for that one.
really good anti-lock brakes? if not that would blow
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.
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.
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!!
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.
Looks incredible, but wouldn't a gyro failure almost always be fatal? It can't be that unlikely for that to happen, either.
dee plane! dee plane!
they really should figure out how to stabilize a motocycle! so you'll never have to put your foot down at a red light :)
Training wheels?
then isnt that considered a car?
They have, by adding a third wheel. Google for Piaggio MP3 or the Gilera Fuoco.
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...
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.
It's a Segway for the crotch-rocket crowd.
wasn't this some Robot for the kid in M.A.S.K ?
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! :)