A young Canadian inventor named Ben Gulak has created an innovative new electric motorbike that takes some of the lessons learned from the Segway device, but implements them in a much cooler package.
The bike, called the Uno, looks from its profile like a strange powered unicycle but actually employs two wheels side-by-side. Riders lean forward to accelerate; a feature famously used by the Segway, and can hit a top speed of 25 mph in its current configuration. The Uno also makes use of a set of gyros to enhance ease of balance, and the wheels are independently operated making turning much more precise.
(Click through the jump to read on or on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Uno images.)
Gulak , who’s only 18, says that the Uno is relatively simple to ride but, “takes a bit of getting used to because you have to learn to trust it.” The young inventor is currently courting investors for his Uno project, and truly believes that the vehicle might one day provide a green alternative for urban commuters.
“It has a range of about 2.5 hours and it is designed for the commute to work through busy towns” says Gulak. “ I believe this could be electrical alternative to the car. I’m just looking for an investor to help me get it into production.”
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Assuming a comparison with a two-wheel electric motorcycle of similar specs, how is one wheel stabilized on a gyroscope that takes more power to run greener than two wheels stabilized on the laws of physics?
We haven’t even gotten into the safety issues of having two wheels over one wheel, two wheels being the setup with more stopping power on the road.
This is a great “gadget”, and may have some marketability as a recreational vehicle… but for all the hype we see these days, this is an obvious looser.
Saxman19-
That’s a fair question, and I would guess the answer is centered not on power, but on weight. The Uno appears to have a markedly smaller (and potentially lighter) frame than a conventional inline motorcycle, and could probably make do with fewer (and smaller) suspension and brake components to boot.
I agree with Saxman. The Uno is an impressive toy, but still has two wheels that require suspension and a drive train. It probably weighs nearly the same as a motorcycle, except is unnecessarily complicated and is less stable during braking, acceleration, or turning. Other sources say the Uno has a top speed of 25MPH, presumably because whatever terribly inefficient method enables the rider to brake is not very effective, and whatever battery is in that thing probably weighs nearly as much as a 50cc four-stroke gas engine while only providing 2.5 hours of range.
Off-the-shelf technology that makes more sense than an Uno are: a 50cc four-stroke scooter, a bicycle (w/ electric helper motor if desired), an electric scooter, a Segway, walking, public transit.
However, the Uno still does look cool, and I would still like to ride it as fast as possible.
Not bad for a high school science project, eh?
I heard about the 25 mph thing on the news. I agree that this seems like a great project. I wonder if he could put in a small gas engine to get more humph out of it.
This would look very impressive on an 18 yr olds resume. This kid may be going places. Their are alot of unknowns about the machine and lingering doubts about it’s feasibility, but I bet if he got some real funding from an investor the next prototype would have far better parts that would solve some presumed mechanical issues.
It’d be cool to have if you’ve got tons of money and a nice place to ride it. But I’d personally never take this on real roads. The commute may be more red than green after something goes wrong on the roads. Oh, I’m such a pessimist.
I think anyone comparing it to a motorcycle is missing the point. It is a cool looking Segway. It isn’t as practical as a Segway for personal transport because you have to straddle it instead of just stepping on, but it shows some interesting thought.
Cool design, but completely impractical (for anything). I would hate to see some drunk driver swerve in front of this thing and force it to stop in a hurry. Besides that, you look like a tool riding the thing…
Still, the technology behind it is cool.
[…] Fuente: Winding Road […]
Diesel with Attitude: The Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro
Report: Volkswagen Working on Driverless Self-Parking System for Production
More Spied Images of New Camaro Interior
Early Scoop on Volkswagen Tiguan's U.S. Launch, Diesel Delayed? Not Coming? 
Report: Mercedes-Benz to Leverage Aluminum for Next E-class
Send to a friend
HTML Formatting Tips
- To make something bold: <strong>Text to bold</strong>
- To make something italic: <em>Text to italicize</em>
- To make a hyperlink: <a href="URL">Text to link</a>
- To quote something previously said, you can use <blockquote>text</blockquote>
Markdown Formatting Tips (advanced)This site also allows use of Markdown formatting in the comment section. This accomplishes the same formatting as HTML but is typically easy to use.
my code* Second item
• Second item
1. Second item
2. Second item
<email@add.com>