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InMotion V11 Electric Unicycle Gets Air (Video)
The electric unicycle concept is taken to excellent extremes in the InMotion V11:
While a 31 mph (50 km/h) electric unicycle might sound like an April Fool’s joke, this is apparently the real deal. So real, in fact, that we’re now getting to see the epic electric unicycle in action, thanks to a slick new off-road riding video...The InMotion V11 is not a beginner electric unicycle, though. It is marketed as having a 2,200W nominal motor, but actually peaks at well over 3,000W of power. And with an 84V battery packing 1,500 Wh of capacity, this high-power electric unicycle has a range of up to 75 miles (120 km).
It also includes some advanced features such as full suspension (is it called “full suspension” when there’s only one wheel?) as well as automotive grade lighting, and even active air cooling for that powerful motor and controller.
Of course this isn’t a cheap electric unicycle either, priced at $1,999. Though good luck finding a 3,000W electric bicycle for that price!
(Via electrek.)
In his enjoyable 1940 story The Roads Must Roll, science fiction writer Robert Heinlein describes an essential piece of equipment for maintenance engineers, a monocycle that balances on its one wheel; he calls it a tumblebug:
"Cadet captain, assign your men in squads of ten each, with squad leader. Each squad is to form a skirmish line across down inside, mounted on tumblebugs, and will proceed north... Leave an interval of one hundred yards between successive waves of skirmishers..."The cadets "stood to horse" alongside their poised tumblebugs. The cadet captain looked expectantly at Gaines...
...he signed the cadet captain to go ahead, and the first and second waves started off together at the top speed of which the tumblebugs were capable - not quite eighteen miles per hour.
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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