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Bombardier's Embrio: Sexier Segway?
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.'"
deja /.
The Embryo is a concept. Until it is realized and a prototype is built, it is as good as any notebook sketch. The numbers quoted for speed are estimates. Given that, it is ridiculous to compare it to the Segway, which is in production.
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It says the Segway tops out at 6 mph. In reality, the number is 10 mph for the P Series and 12.5 for the I and E Series. (source: Seqway Specs.
Get your facts straight!
A blog like any other.
No problem at all...and a traditional unicycle is hardly a basis for an example. The 'propulsion' is hard-fixed to the wheel, and there is no computer to make split second decisions. Try this for more info...
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 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.
linky
What do you mean? Most motorcyclists brake exclusively with the front brake.
I have owned many motorcycles more than 360 lbs. and lifted them no problem, and i am not a large guy.
it is all about where the balance point is.
If you are one in a million, then there are six thousand people who are just like you.
Not necessarily. The rear break always makes for a more stable (less unstable) stop (provided you put some weight on it). The front wheel is the the upside down pendulum, statically indeterminate, and by virtue of the wheel axle and the headset it is indeterminate in all planes (except of course -y, where all the blood and mangled bones will end up). Using the front brake makes the rear wheel want to pivot about it (up or to the sides).
... or there's something I complete missed and I'm full of it *G*.
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.
Toddlers are the stormtroopers of the Lord of Entropy.