Video: Joules robot rides shotgun, helps pedal on two-person bicycle

There's "desperate for companionship," and then there's "just plain cool." We're going out on a limb here and suggesting that the scenario you see unfolding above is a case of the latter, with modder Carl developing a robotic partner that not only rides shotgun on this tandem bicycle, but also helps pedal. A PMG-132 electric motor is connected to Joules (that's the robot, just so you know), and thanks to an array of nuts, bolts, joints and the promise of a better life in Carl's garage, Joules has graciously agreed to help power the bike for as long as his owner decides to exercise. Trust us, there's a truly touching video waiting for you after the break, and you'll immediately lose five nerd points should you choose not to head down there and look.

[Elliot Bridgewater Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:40PM]

Lovely fluid motion!

[jimmyrock88 Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:51PM]

if this runs on batteries then isnt it easier to get an electric bike or something similar??

[AvianAzn Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:05PM]

no.

[pretol Posted Sep 18th 2009 3:12AM]

Yeah, you can ride ALL ALONE.... OR, you could ride with your BEST EVUH ROBOTIC FRIEND...

the choice is yours.

[White Noise Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:52PM]

Yea, not as much as you there buddy.

[White Noise Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:52PM]

Do do dooo... You're my best friend.

[White Noise Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:58PM]

Oh, and this is an electric bike, just way more awesome than any other electric bike. Except for maybe this one...

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/next/archives/2008/05/a_truly_alterna.html

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:53PM]

WOW! Triple Fail

*facepalm*

[Dary Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:54PM]

Please Engadget, invent something to auto ban mindless ppl.

[Sy Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:56PM]

Hey dude, there's a thing called a motorcycle, have you heard of it?

[El Jefe Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:09PM]

theres a thing called missing the point. I'm sure you've heard of it many times.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2009 9:56PM]

Nice design. I wonder if it has more speeds then just slow?

[MrAffrox Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:24PM]

The sad thing is that I actually felt obligated to see the video after reading the last sentence of this article.

[eruh Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:31PM]

Now, where's my points?

[FitFan Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:46PM]

It's all fun and games until Joules decides that he wants to try to beat that yellow light.

[Amun Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:00AM]

...or put his metal fist through a couple bikers. Talk about awkward!

[shogunmaster Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:51PM]

Aren't people fat enough? With what little exercise people get now a days, why make cycling any easier than it already is?....

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:58PM]

Robot not withstanding, that type of bike is called a "Tandem".

[RioRyan Posted Sep 17th 2009 11:24PM]

Considering that they use the words "tandem bicycle" in the article, I think they know that.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2009 10:59PM]

someome forgot to put a helmet on

[avis Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:23AM]

this is more of fancy than practical, considering you can achieve more efficiency through electric motor coupled to the wheel..

what the fuck! I like this electro-mechanical though..calling it robot is bit too much..

[MysterySword Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:33AM]

It looks cool, but I'm sure its efficiency varies.

[nelagster Posted Sep 18th 2009 12:48AM]

Alright robot thats enough........robot stop pedaling........ROBOTTTTTT!!!!!!!

[barCODE Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:54AM]

What a beautiful work of mechanical art that is.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 4:30AM]

When I saw the picture I thought he should have called it Daisy instead of Joules... but then I heard the video :D

[DylanUK Posted Sep 18th 2009 4:56AM]

Wow, an unbelievable amount of people missing the point entirely.

Amazing project, and effortlessly artistic in its finesse. Kudos to the creator.

[F C Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:07AM]

I'll be impressed when they remove the training wheels.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 1:12PM]

Maybe when it grows up.

[advs89 Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:48PM]

Yeah, I'd like to see some Segway-eque "gyroscopic sensors" and gyroscopes.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 7:23AM]

what happens when you want to stop and use the bathroom while Mr. "I think I can" in the back doesn't want to stop?

[teetlebomb Posted Sep 18th 2009 8:29AM]

I can't believe I wasted a minute of my time to watch that video. I would have been better off with the -5 points.

[jj37 Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:03PM]

lonely man builds bike for two, waits for a wife, builds robot.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2009 3:40PM]

well, this *could perhaps* be ONE way to get around Ontario's annoying 500W max law for electrically driven bicycles

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 8:33AM]

HAHAHAHA I have never seen a practical situation for using the song Daisy Bell, wise choice who ever made the video (guessing the guy that made the robot)
[the song is actually about a tandem bike]