Bot pedals on tandem bike behind its maker
Joules might be a robot, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy a calming tandem bike ride with his creator. He's not dead weight, either--he actually pedals, thanks to a PMG-132 motor.
Joules was born out of a challenge from its maker's son, a former pro bike racer. Could his dad build an electric tandem based on actually pumping the pedals?
(Credit: Endless-sphere.com)Joules might be a robot, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy a calming tandem bike ride with his creator, Carl. He's not dead weight, either--he actually pedals, thanks to a PMG-132 motor.
There's trouble in paradise, however. Carl writes on the electric-vehicle-technology forums Endless-sphere.com that Joules "does all of the pedaling," which sounds like the start of every sci-fi plot in which overworked robots rebel against their makers. Besides that little hiccup, this is a really cool project, and sort of cute in a weird, nerdy way.
More photos and a video after the jump.
Getting Joules ready for the first ride.
(Credit: Endless-sphere.com)
A closeup of the drive linkage, which uses human-proportional legs to pedal in a circle matching the pedal cranks.
(Credit: Endless-sphere.com)
This story originally appeared on Gizmodo.
