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eniCycle Self-Balancing Tumblebug
The eniCycle is a unique electric-powered, self-balancing unicycle. Created by Slovenian inventor Aleksander Polutnik, who claims you can become an expert rider in just thirty minutes.
(eniCycle)
Here's how it works:
Electronic gyroscope measures vertical angle of eniCycle. If you lean forwards, this is detected by gyroscope and the electronic accelerates the speed of the motor to put the eniCycle back in balance. In case you lean back, the speed is decelerated. A complete control runs 100 times per second and stabilizes eniCycle in a perfect vertical position. Because of this eniCycle fits into the category of self balancing vehicles. The speed of eniCycle is controlled by leaning forwards/backwards.
(eniCycle video)
Fans of Robert Heinlein recall fondly the tumblebug, the maintenance vehicle of choice for engineers working on the rolling roads.
It had been a long time since the Chief Engineer had ridden one of these silly-looking little vehicles, and he felt awkward. A tumblebug does not give a man dignity, since it is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized on a single wheel.
(Read more about Heinlein's tumblebug)
Polutnik is looking for investors; he has only two prototype models.
Compare the picture of Polutnik's eniCycle with the original illustration of the tumblebug from the 1940 Astounding Science Fiction magazine. From eniCycle via Neatorama.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/22/2009)
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