Single Person Transportation System

Designed for single person, this futuristic transportation concept is a round shaped vehicle that uses two wheels with unique angle to balance and support the man body. It certainly provides unique experience to its driver. There’s no steering wheel. User will drive this car using a joystick, similar to the way someone plays a video game. The designer, Sanu K R, bet your kids can drive this vehicle easily, due to its body design. To get in and out of the solo pod, one must open the circular doors, which resemble that of a submarines. This futuristic electric car is small and slim, so it will not take much space on the road. [via]

MONO: Electric Single-Driver-Vehicle

MONO is an electric single-driver-vehicle that occupies a very small amount of space in its lane and embodies a handful of additional intelligent features. It is the smallest car-unit of a differentiated car-sharing system. In the rush-hour mode MONO becomes shorter to save driving space in the city. It may not assist in speed but in those situations when lane-changing is necessary amidst a gridlock scenario, Elena Gerber's concept car can draw its back wheel closer to its front two. This adjustment allows its vaguely egg-shaped cabin to stand upright and effectively reduce its footprint. The driving pod itself accommodates just one person, consistent with the popular commuting practice of avoiding the economic and eco-friendly carpool. The MONO Electric Vehicle is light and efficient and would suit well as a personal transportation scheme in the future. [via]

Gyroscopically-Stabilized Electric Motorcycle

The C-1 by Lit Motors, Inc is the world’s first gyroscopically-stabilized electric motorcycle. This vehicle combines the efficiency and freedom of a motorcycle with the safety and convenience of a car. Influenced by Scandinavian design, the exterior of the C-1 is both approachable and simple, enveloping the human in subtle curves, softened volumes, and lots of glass. The overall design foundation is based on its waist line, which wraps around the vehicle’s circumference, and is grounded by the swooping rocker panel, highlighting its unique gyroscopic components. Offering the “alternative to alternatives” on an exciting and safe platform, the C-1 transforms your daily commute into something to look forward to.

Due to its numerous layers of connectivity, you can think of the C-1 as a “rolling smart phone”. The device will employ H2V, H2C, V2I, and V2V connectivity. As a small example: traffic, construction, and adverse weather conditions will be transmitted to the vehicle, thus informing both you and the C-1 about the current situation and advising different routes.

Using electronically-controlled gyroscopes located under the floor – generating over 1,300 ft.-lb. of torque – the C-1 balances at a stop and stays upright, even in a collision. In-hub, direct-drive electric motors (20 kW) provide power and regeneration, while center-hub steering keeps you pointed in the right direction. With a top speed of 100+ MPH and battery packs providing up to 200 miles per charge, the C-1 is perfect for commuters. [via]

db0 7: Electric Bike with Iconic V Shape

The db0 (divided by nothing) 7 is an electric bike with a rear mounted motor designed by Rob Brady and team. The main focus was to design purposely for universal usage - male and female riders – and this dictated the purpose of the down-tube and the overall structure. The frame needed to allow for ease of mount and dismount for all riders. Designing around this universal purpose, the basic V shape becomes an iconic element of the design – using the central hub as the focal point of the bike. The center hub houses all of the electronics. The designers of db0 7 kept the overall read simplified – the design remains clean and not fussy. This clean focal point allows bike to stand out in the crowd.

The db0 7 equipped with the hub with stylized lights to show battery strength and power assist strength. These lights are not meant to be visible to the rider, they are more to highlight to the onlookers that this bike is something more than a traditional bike. Riders will gain information on their bike’s performance through a Bluetooth unit that will relay information to a db0 application on the rider’s smart phone. The rider can place their smart phone into a mount in the handlebar area for ease of use. The circular hub is the iconic element of the db0 7, in this case highlighting not only the technology but the overall lightness and simplicity of the bike by focusing on the empty space of the circle. This also stays within the db0 family aesthetic of elevating the electronic hub as the design focus.

The db0 7 has a distinct boldness to the tubing design. The tube design is purposeful in its cross-sections. While maintaining the bold aesthetic of the bike, they are functional in that the rear tube is much wider to allow for the housing the 36v battery pack and also as a structural support for the seat, while the front tube is much more slender, allowing for ease of entry onto the bike while still allowing room for necessary cabling through the tube. The seat adjustment is also unique. The seat support travels on the support tube within a rail, allowing for unique articulation points. As shorter riders lower the seat, the design also brings them closer to the handlebars. Rob Brady and team addressed structural concerns of seat support with concentric support components that complement the central hub and also strengthen the arrangement of the main V shape. The bike was designed to be as light as possible for an electric bike while maintaining consideration for manufacturing efficiency, i.e. a traditional bike assembly method of welded extruded aluminum tubing. The stylized cast aluminum wheels echo the simplistic design and mirror the play on empty space at the focal point of the bike. [via]

An Easy Way to Lock Your Bicycle

Saddle Lock is a new way to quickly lock the rear wheel without the need for additional locking accessories. In complex cities, the number of people using bicycles to travel short distances is increasing. Following the trend, bicycle design has been evolving rapidly. On the contrary, the evolution of the bicycle lock has been slow. When they make a quick stop – such as at a coffee counter or a convenience store – people still look for something to lock their bicycle to. Even though they are only stopping for a few minutes, they must perform quite a number of actions to lock their bike.

Saddle Lock designed by Lee Sang Hwa, Kim Jin Ho, and Yeo Min Gu provides a fast and easy way to lock your bicycle when you’re making a quick stop. The seat post swings down around the main frame when a button is pushed. The saddle features a cut-away shape that allows it to sit over the rear wheel. A combination lock allows the release of a special alloy rotating lock that extends from one end of the saddle to the other, securing its connection to the wheel. [via]

Even though Saddle Lock is a 2012 red dot award: design concept winner, there are some negative comments, for example from Mark Flaming, "I'm sorry, but as beautiful as this design is, it is a complete failure. There is no structure left in the bicycle frame. They have taken the triangulation out of the rear stays where it most needs it, which will lead to flexing of the rear wheel and ultimately frame failure at the bottom bracket. Secondly, there is now now way to adjust the seat height for different riders. Unless they are planning on making 100 different seat posts, this will lead to knee problems for the rider. So much sacrifice in design all for the convenience of a $10 rear wheel lock? How did this get an award?"