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Build Your Own Self-Balancing Unicycle

Posted by michael on from the helmet-strongly-advised dept.

CaptainKaos[DOH!] writes "Robot hacker Trevor Blackwell is at it again, this time with a self-balancing Eunicycle. Blackwell writes, 'Some time ago I built a self-balancing two-wheeled scooter. Since then I realized that two wheels are redundant, and only a single wheel is needed to make a ridable vehicle. A vehicle with a single wheel is much smaller and lighter. It weighs under 30 lbs and is easily carried with one hand when going up stairs or on public transportation.' Trevor's previous 'Segway' type two-wheeler was mentioned on Slashdot."

18 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Animal Pharm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    One wheel good, two wheels bad!

    1. Re:Animal Pharm by game+kid · · Score: 5, Funny

      All unicycles are equal (but some equalize themselves more than others).

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  2. Half a Segway... by mangu · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...will be half as useful, and still cost $5k...

  3. Brian Blessed voice: What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I misread that as a eunuchcycle. clicky

    1. Re:Brian Blessed voice: What? by mtrisk · · Score: 3, Funny

      Eunuchs would certainly have no problems sitting on one.

      --

      Without a proper flamewar, Anonymous was undecided on what shell to run.
  4. Hmm.. by James_G · · Score: 1, Funny

    Seems to me the name is a bit too close to "Eunuchcycle", which might be more appropriate if you were to sit down on it too hard..

  5. The practical use is? by freralqqvba · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I have a strong bias towards building products that people buy for their own use." -Trevor

    I too support people killing themselves. But, really - couldn't we find a more effective method?

  6. That just doesn't look comfortable... by gandell · · Score: 3, Funny

    Besides the crotch-punishing bicycle seat, you have to ride with your arms out beside you. Sure, that's great for exercise freaks, but what about us lazy folk? Segway?

    --
    Mercy was given to me by Christ...I must give the same to others.
    1. Re:That just doesn't look comfortable... by game+kid · · Score: 2, Funny

      Isn't evolution great?

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  7. One wheel is one wheel too many...... by Urger · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, when does the 0 wheel version come out? But to be more serious...very, very cool.

    --
    Ubiquitously - A Ubiquity Developer Community
    1. Re:One wheel is one wheel too many...... by Tuirn · · Score: 2, Funny

      I want my hover bike.

      --
      Klein bottle for rent - inquire within.
  8. Very true... by GillBates0 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Since then I realized that two wheels are redundant, and only a single wheel is needed to make a ridable vehicle. A vehicle with a single wheel is much smaller and lighter.

    Yeah man....I've realized something....those 4 wheeled busses are a pain to ride in. Can't get any damned seats anywhere.

    I need something smaller and lighter...like a 1 wheeled bus. That'll surely be painless to ride in and easy to carry around.

    Mod +5 beers *hic8

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:Very true... by Reneumann · · Score: 2, Funny

      They tried this on Monster Garage. It's just a big motorized wheel you sit inside; for a bus, I suppose it would have to be ferris-wheel sized. The guy raced it down the street, spun out and crashed awfully into a tree. Good times.

  9. B.C. cartoon by erroneus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hehe... that sort of reminds me of the method of transport used by one of the characters in the B.C. cartoon series. (Anyone here know what I'm referring to?)

  10. The Memories! The HORRIBLE Memories!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I went to a school with a very significant unicycle population. It was by far the worst thing about going to that school. All the dorks thinking they were somehow cool by riding around on unicycles! These were the nerdiest of the nerds, the dorkiest dorks in a school full of geeks, nerds, and dorks. I don't claim to be "normal" but having these losers around was actually embarrassing to the rest of us.

    <shudder> This story just brought back all the hideous memories... excuse me while I go and try to scrub my brain.

  11. ...By Any Other Name... by DCheesi · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wow, what a terrible name. I'd rather not ride a Eunich-cycle, thank you very much! The worst part is that it's probably an accurate description of what happens when there's a firmware glitch! Ouch! :)

  12. Yes. by tunabomber · · Score: 3, Funny

    I too support people killing themselves. But, really - couldn't we find a more effective method?

    Well, when it comes to unicycle-related methods of facilitating suicide,
    Microsoft's way ahead of Trevor. Now THAT's innovation!

    --

    pi = 3.141592653589793helpimtrappedinauniversefactory71 ...
  13. Re:Hey by rawket.scientist · · Score: 2, Funny

    When he gomes out with a robot with out wheels, then I will be impressed. (It also has to move, no cheating.) The next one will have treads!

    --
    John Hancock wuz here.