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Engineer builds Self-Balanced, Motorized Unicycle

By - Source: Nick Thatcher | B 17 comments
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First, Nick Thatcher built a Segway-like vehicle called the No-Way. Then he built something more unique: An electric unicycle.

The Raptor does not sound intimidating and looks more like a rocking horse than a violent dinosaur, but its concept is fascinating, especially if you think about the fact that it was not funded by millions of dollars like Dean Kamen's Segway.

The device uses a 350 watt motor that is good for a safe top speed of 10 MPH, while an Arduino Uno micro controller is responsible for analyzing inertia data and process them in a program that was taken and modified from One Wheeled.

Thatcher said that the current battery life is about 90 to 120 minutes and the entire unicycle weights about 25 kg, or 55 lbs. He intends to increase the range of the device with a stronger battery in an evolutionary design of the Raptor.

A YouYube video indicates that the Raptor works, but may not be the most practical vehicle in the current design. With some visual modifications, a motorized unicycle may, however, be an attractive product for those among us who just don't like to walk.

Self Balancing Unicyle

 

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  • 8 Hide
    virtualban , December 18, 2012 8:29 AM
    Now make it self aware and carrying a gun. Hurry, only a few days left till the 21st.
  • 3 Hide
    tipmen , December 18, 2012 9:10 AM
    I can see these things all over Wal-Mart with overweight people riding them around taking up 8 foot isles. Only in America
  • 3 Hide
    virtualban , December 18, 2012 9:15 AM
    Those kind of people would need 4 of them at once. Maybe with a rigid surface to distribute the weight. And if only there was a way to control all 4 of them at the same time...
    One can dream...
  • Display all 17 comments.
  • 3 Hide
    CrArC , December 18, 2012 9:28 AM
    While I appreciate how awesome these are, in reality this joins the ranks of the dozens of other self-balancing scooters/bikes which people have made on a shoestring budget. Has nobody at Toms come across these before??

    Not complaining. The more the merrier, I say. I'd welcome more gadget-related posts like this as well, come to think of it.

    Note the real-life functioning Tron motorcycle in the "related videos" section at the end ;)  link just in case you can't see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pAFptrSuw7E
  • 1 Hide
    Wolygon , December 18, 2012 10:53 AM
    Theres also the Ryno, which is moving towards production in Jan 2013:
    http://rynomotors.com/
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1YoCfm7nxU&feature=related
  • 0 Hide
    ciaran54 , December 18, 2012 11:02 AM
    Pretty cool Idea, but there is already a much neater one for release in 2013:

    http://www.firebox.com/product/5468/SBU-V3-Self-Balancing-Unicycle
  • 0 Hide
    mikenygmail , December 18, 2012 11:17 AM
    Very cool, good job Nick!
  • 1 Hide
    g00fysmiley , December 18, 2012 12:12 PM
    I must be among the few people left in the world who LIKES to walk/jog >_< cool design but at 10 mph that is certainly faster than my walking pace (3.8 mph) and not a ton faster then my jogging pace of 6.5 mph (which can be sustained for longer than this machine's battery will last by most reasonably healthy people)

    cool gadget and i can see merit in the idea if it had a logner range (yes i know the article mentions that being the next step) but you still have to park it or find a way yo keep it with you vs walking/jogging where you get there stress free and with health benefits
  • 0 Hide
    sacre , December 18, 2012 2:06 PM
    g00fysmileyI must be among the few people left in the world who LIKES to walk/jog >_< cool design but at 10 mph that is certainly faster than my walking pace (3.8 mph) and not a ton faster then my jogging pace of 6.5 mph (which can be sustained for longer than this machine's battery will last by most reasonably healthy people) cool gadget and i can see merit in the idea if it had a logner range (yes i know the article mentions that being the next step) but you still have to park it or find a way yo keep it with you vs walking/jogging where you get there stress free and with health benefits


    But unfortunately, in 20 years your cartilage can't be replaced. This machine however, can.

    I love to walk/jog as well, but I still commute using bike/vehicle due to time constraints and weather.

    Anyways, these unicycles have always been a bad idea, why? Some kid runs in front of you, you slam on the brakes, you go face first into the kid or pavement.
  • 0 Hide
    bmyton , December 18, 2012 2:11 PM
    Quote:
    (which can be sustained for longer than this machine's battery will last by most reasonably healthy people)


    I would love to meet the "reasonably healthy" person that can maintain an 8min/mile pace for a full half marathon in slacks and a button down shirt and still be presentable enough to walk into work when they're finished. I think a 30min 5k would be a more reasonable definition of healthy, and even that would be with some fatigue at the end.

    As far as I can guess, this thing would be designed to replace bicycles and small scooters for people that commute 1-10 miles to work. I don't personally see the advantage over a standard bicycle, but that's just me.

    -Ben
  • 0 Hide
    Anonymous , December 18, 2012 2:39 PM
    Cool, with a stronger motor and battery, maybe even a small gas engine I can see someone useing it on a trail in the woods. add a remote controll and maybe a "brain" so it could follow someone the military could use it to carry water, food, or ammo. add a remote controll, tv and "hands" it could be used for mine clearing. With the right tire it could clime stairs. Don't know how well it could handle mud.
  • 1 Hide
    maxinexus , December 18, 2012 3:35 PM
    virtualbanNow make it self aware and carrying a gun. Hurry, only a few days left till the 21st.


    Don't want to burst your bubble but 21st century started 01/01/01
  • 2 Hide
    halcyon , December 18, 2012 3:44 PM
    maxinexusDon't want to burst your bubble but 21st century started 01/01/01

    No no...December 21st...the end of the world. Where've you been?
  • 0 Hide
    JonnyDough , December 18, 2012 8:23 PM
    System Malfunction, commencing tip-over in 3..2..1..
  • 0 Hide
    danwat1234 , December 19, 2012 2:10 AM
    I like the solowheel a lot better. More compact, longer range, lighter weight, has a gyro..
  • -1 Hide
    Anonymous , January 16, 2013 7:55 AM
    For a nice comparison of the features of different unicycle models have a look at http://focusdesigns.com/compare/ the Solowheel or SBU V2 is already available!
  • 0 Hide
    JonnyDough , January 16, 2013 1:13 PM
    That is not an independent third party's website. Moreover, the SBU which it is promoting says this:

    WARNING.
    Do not attempt to travel down long steep inclines on a 100% fully charged battery. Failure to comply may result in damage to the battery or to the circuit board due to the regenerative braking.

    It's little things like this that will begin to really set these apart and justify the higher price of some of the competitors offerings, but these things are not listed on the comparison page which you linked to.