Bombardier's Embrio: Sexier Segway? 339
Ridgelift writes "Articles at Wired News, Popular Science, and Forbes are covering Bombardier's Embrio. It's a single-wheeled, hydrogen fuel cell-powered, gyroscopically balanced concept vehicle. While the Segway tops out at 6 mph, the Embrio 'hits 35 mph in the learning mode alone.' Very cool -- looks like something straight out of 'Minority Report.'"
dupe? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:dupe? (Score:0, Informative)
concept (Score:5, Informative)
ARTICLE INCORRECT (Score:5, Informative)
Get your facts straight!
Re:Stopping distance (Score:5, Informative)
Couple a decent accident avoidance system with an anti-lock disc brake, along with the gyros and the only limit is the adhesion patch between the tire and the pavement. Staying upright is just a matter of not locking the brake...micro-second brake pulses, etc. Or, assuming an electric motor of some sort is involved, you simply backfeed (turn the motor into a generator), and it will do the braking for you.
My sportbike [kentidwell.com] does +150mph, weighs 370lbs and can haul down from 60-0 in less than 120 feet (0 to 60 to 0 inside 5 seconds). I'd bet the Embrio could do better than that, just on less weight alone.
another blurb and pics (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Stopping distance (Score:2, Informative)
What do you mean? Most motorcyclists brake exclusively with the front brake.
Re:Heavy (Score:2, Informative)
it is all about where the balance point is.
Re:Stopping distance (Score:3, Informative)
Now, of while braking (with whichever wheel), the vehicle's momentum will tend to lift the rear wheel up as you shift forward or the vehicles suspension surges forward. This will cause it to lose its braking power. Downhill mountain bikers ride extremely low and back in the saddle and ride the back brake almost exclusively.
Front brake is a recipe for disaster. And in bicycles at least, the rear brake is less effective just because the cable is longer and has more give. It is not transmit the stopping power very well.