Audi A0 monocycle concept rolls by
Posted 13th August, 2011 in Audi, Videos | Leave a comment
We’ve been aware of the projects between Technische Universität München and Audi for some time, particularly the in-car Avatar-based Virtual Co-driver System (AviCoS), which replaced the need for a cumbersome owner’s manual.
This latest piece of work involved a third collaborator in the form of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and we like it. The Audi A0 concept works along the same lines as a Segway, in that it’s a self-stabilizing, electric-powered, urban mode of transport for when walking seems too much of a chore.
But, whereas the Segway is a pretty hefty unit, this single-wheeled concept is far lighter and can be folded up and placed in the boot of a car. Another bonus is that you can actually sit down on it. Top speed is 15 km/h (9 mph), and battery life is around one hour.
We’ve seen something similar before – the Enicycle, which uses mini gyroscopes to constantly measure the vertical angle of the vehicle, they then transfer the data back to a processor, which drives the motor and in turn maintains your balance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIFliIEFxo
[Source: Engadget]
