One-wheeled motorcycle of the future
(Credit:
Newlaunches)
We have no idea what transportation vehicles will look like in 2025 but, if we ventured to guess, the "Embrio Advanced Concept" wouldn't appear anywhere on the list of possibilities. Call us narrow-minded, but we just don't see a one-wheeled motorcycle taking off for the masses.
Designed by Canada-based Bombardier Recreational Products, it sounds something like a mashup of a motorized unicycle and a Segway--for two people, if you can believe that. "The vehicle uses sensors and gyroscopes to balance up to two passengers on a large single wheel whilst driving," according to Newlaunches, allowing the rider(s) to turn by leaning left or right. And given that we're talking about the future, it will run on green hydrogen fuel cells, of course.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature, aside from the fact that it has only one wheel, is a small set of "landing gear" that descends at speeds under 12.5 miles per hour. Frankly, we'd feel safer riding something like the "Hyperbike."
compartment for the rider's vital info and their preferred hospital.
Even if you use it only as a Moped, Parking with this thing would be a breeze.
- Old news REAL OLD news
- by baratacus March 26, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
- This was publicized in 2003 and in 2005 won an award for best concept vehicle. I still haven't seen a prototype or video of testing, so It's probably been shelved. We may see it resurface as the new nanoCell batterys are brought out, but a hydrogen fuel cell would take up too much room and not produce enough power to run a gyroscope capable of keeping two passengers upright at speeds from 12-60KpH while at the same time propelling the vehicle at those speeds. I think there's a man powered concept helocopter in DaVinci's notebook if you want to do an article on that. If a concept idea hasn't made it to prototype in 5 years, you most likely won't see it until two things happen: there's a huge leap in technology to enable it to work, there's a passionately dedicated team of concept developers that can push the idea through (again) who weren't layed off after the first failure to launch.
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