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Camper Lotus: 2 people on Two Wheels

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12.15.06
Cars & Transportation

camper_lotus.jpg

So this is the egg that Segways hatch from: The Camper Lotus, designed as "a personal commuter" for China in 2012. Seats 2, is rechargeable and is balanced by gyroscope technology. "With zero emissions, it offers a means of helping to achieve cleaner air. For comfort, it offers customisable personal space both inside and out. Its small footprint allows easy parking, and it is rechargeable with household electricity. Lotus may be customised and retailed both online and in showrooms. Short-term leasing options on parts such as external polycarbonate panels may be ideal so customers are able to enjoy updated looks, and old parts can be properly recycled." Turns on a dime, too. Interesting design concept from ::Patty Yuan via ::Yanko

camper2.jpg

camper3.jpg

Comments (12)

Well, yes, but...

Balancing on two wheels is pretty cool, but about as pointless as designing a robot to stand on one leg. Ultimately, the only thing keeping it upright is energy. So, has anyone calculated how much energy is wasted keeping it upright, when the same effect could be achieved by a thing called a "wheel"?

This idea's a dodo.

jump to top NickR says:

"Ultimately, the only thing keeping it upright is energy. So, has anyone calculated how much energy is wasted keeping it upright, when the same effect could be achieved by a thing called a "wheel"?"

On the flip side, having more wheels increases the energy lost to friction between the wheels and the pavement. It's not clear to me which side of the fence the numbers would fall...

jump to top sc says:

I agree that there is alot of wasted energy by balancing on two wheels.

Personally I prefer the domestic electric GemCAR, http://www.gemcar.com/, to this one.

The Camper Lotus is not a "dodo idea", IMHO, but probably not as efficient as a tradition 3 or 4 wheeled vehicle.

jump to top RJP says:

I personally thing this is really kool for a city commuter. Like a all weather Segway for 2. I really don't know the energy requirements for the gyroscope balance but I don't think that it could be too high of a drain on it.

jump to top Robert Hansen says:

Lol you really think so? I can't imagine it is much. Slight corrections. Do you really think it is more than the extra weight of other tires and axles and the energy required to move them?

Though many two wheel vehicles will use energy to balance standing upright on two wheels does not require constant energy input.

And yes I have done work with robots that have only two wheels.

jump to top TrollPatrol says:

The whole reason ultra-econoboxes like Geo Metros have such narrow wheels is that cuts out a lot of drag. Cutting out a set of wheels entirely is even better - assuming that the additional energy needed to balance isn't more than what is lost by removing the frontal area of the missing wheels. Actual numbers would be interesting.

jump to top Doug [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

In fact, there's no need for the 'gyroscopic technology at all. Why not just increase the wheel size, putting the axles at roughly chest height on the occupants? Then the whole vehicle's centre of gravity would rest below the axles, and balance would be automatic. No extra energy consumed, and huge benefits (which other posters have apparently not considered) in reduced rolling resistance, easier steering, turn radius, ease of maintenance, interior space use, and so on.

Of course, on accelerating, the cabin would tend to counter-rotate against the turning of the wheels, but that isn't really a problem. Just arrange the drive system to shift the cabin forward when accelerating, backward when decelerating; the torque applied by gravity would then counter the torque applied by the engine, and voilá.

(I can diagram this for anyone who really needs it, but honestly, if you just draw it out with pencil and paper, you'll see it intuitively.)

I've been trying to work out a regular human-powered bicycle on this principle, and the big difficulty isn't balance, but arranging to transfer from the feet to the wheels. My best solution to date is, funny enough, a generator/electric motor drivetrain.

I think people reach too quickly for high-tech solutions. Deliberately adopting the constraints of low-tech leads to better overall designs.

Dominic

jump to top Dominic Brown says:

ummm...the artists' mockup shows it on sidewalks or some kind of pedestrian path. Unlike the Segway, this thing looks like it has pretty big blindspots. I'm already sharing walking pathways with inline skaters, skateboarders, and the occasional university delivery truck (I work at a college campus). It's getting to be a bit much "shared use" as it is!

jump to top jay says:

If they are really contemplating selling this there would have to be a means other than the gyroscope to keep it upright when the batteries run out.
I think it's a great idea. So small, so light, but tall and visible. A bicycle whomps a Segway but this is a lot better than a Segway.

jump to top George Krpan says:

You guys, take a closer look: this was somebody's senior thesis for design school. It's not a real commercial product.

jump to top jayKayEss says:

Well that shutts them up all right.

jump to top Nick says:

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