Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, North America
Update on the Uno electric unicycle
Click here to see more shots
Last year, we showed you Canadian teen Ben Gulak's much-cooler interpretation of the Segway. Called the Uno, his 120 pound machine is capable of balancing itself and its rider using custom-programmed software and some gyros. When we last saw the contraption, it looked very much like the DIY machine that it is, but now the Uno appears in a much more finished state, complete with sporty bodywork in bright orange. There's also a website for the project, though not much is posted there as of yet.
The Uno was created as a possible response to the pollution that our internal combustion engines emit as we drive. On a 2006 trip to China, Ben says that "The smog was so thick, we never saw the sun." Though most of the hard work was done by Ben himself, a few experts stepped in to provide a bit of assistance, and the end-result is reportedly very easy to ride. We likey.
Gallery: Self-Balancing Uno
[Source: Motorcycle Mojo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 2:27PM (4/28/2008)
My main concern would be doing an endo if I had to apply the breaks hard in an emergency situation, how do they prevent that?
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1985 Gripen 3:12PM (4/28/2008)
Besides being an eye-catcher, what's the functional advantage of a unicycle over a motorcycle? And when you "park" it, how does it stay upright? Is there some sort of kickstand?
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Chris 3:42PM (4/28/2008)
While I don't claim to be an expert as physics, it seems like considerable energy would be used up in the process of this thing keeping itself upright. I'm not sure this really solves the problem of emissions and smog that they are aiming for.
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Niralisherni 7:59AM (4/29/2008)
One wheel? I dont know
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Brainer 9:22PM (5/14/2008)
I find it a bit strange that in this day and age of everyone and his dog having camera phones, computers, Facebook pages and Youtube entries that no where on the net can be found video of this machine in action! Lots of stills, but no video.
Has anyone actually SEEN this thing move?
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