Described as a "motorbike-car" hybrid, the Lit C-1 two wheeler uses a set of futuristic electronic gyroscopes to ensure it remains upright and balanced, similar to the technology used by Segway scooters and the recent Honda UNI-CUB.
A group of scientists have announced that within a few years it may be possible to sell a two-wheeled vehicle that can't tip over.
The
technology allows drivers to sit and use a steering wheel, as in a car,
but allows the C-1 to stay perfectly balanced, even at slow speeds or a
standstill.
The
secret to the balance are the gyroscopes under the floor, which spin
rapidly in response to electronic sensors to keep the vehicle balanced
at all times -- even, says Lit, if the vehicle is involved in a
collision.
Gyroscopes,
which harness the unique propensity of a spinning flywheel to stay
upright, have been used for some time for stabilization, including on
aircraft and on cruise ships to reduce roll caused by waves.However, this will be one of the
most unique applications to date, potentially enabling drivers to
switch to smaller vehicles which offer the benefits of a bike with the
comparative safety of a car.
The model can even cope with
some luggage and an extra passenger, says Lit, although it's likely to
involve some considerable acrobatics from the rear passenger given the
small size of the device.
The C-1 uses electric drive and
offers a battery pack capable of 200 miles (321 km/h) from a single
charge, as well as reaching a top speed of over 120 mph (193 km/h) --
far faster than most electric cars available on the market today.
The manufacturer says that it
could be available in showrooms by the end of 2014 -- it's already
offering preorders on the website from $250, although the final price of
the vehicle is unclear.
Source: Yahoo
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment