Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Viva los semi-panaderos!

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                           

feet legs and pelvis steered motorcycle

a motorcycle designed to be steered EXCLUSIVELY with lower body leaving upper body totally free
  (+3, -5)
(+3, -5)
  [vote for,
against]

would it be possible to design a motorcycle 2 wheels--- to be steered exclusively with lower body?

there are many gyroscopic balancing systems. in the past 5 years alone, there's been a veritable explosion in gyroscopic and accelerometer based balance control systems, including, but not limited to

stand up systems like segway gyroscopically self balancing 2 wheel bots, and even a gyroscopically stabilizing enclosed motorcycle. gyro stabilized unicycles gyroscopically moving cubes accelerometer based devises of all kinds.

the question here is not merely about devising the right computtational system, but about devising the correct user interface system that allows a motorcycle rider to fully control tilt speed and breaking with feet legs, hips and lower body posture while leaving the arms and head totally free for motion----------even while going through bumps turns and other vehicle perterbance that , even with suspension, may disturb the drivers body position.

it's an intriguing idea and while it's more than obvious unicycles work this way, unicycles are very limited in speed and turning AND in how fast they can stop.

a motorcycle that could do this, while also being 'smart' enough to allow the user to deal with emergencies by steering out of them and only enabling a 'stablization mode' when the user has been rendered incapable of driving the vehicle----

might be pretty cool.

teslaberry, Apr 19 2014

electric skateboard --hand controls...... http://www.gizmag.c...ountainboard/31741/
many of these have been made. if they could be programmed to carry gun turrets, they'd be excellent. [teslaberry, Apr 22 2014]

motorized polo---- http://www.nytimes....st-africa.html?_r=0
a sport which replaces horse polo, but as of now, still requires 2 players per scooter one to steer one to hit, segway and pedal bike polo suck because they are too slow!. [teslaberry, Apr 25 2014]

toyota already did it so they thought it was a good idea https://www.youtube...?v=1-K-uBFJjS0#t=26
[teslaberry, May 30 2014]

YMCA https://www.youtube...watch?v=5ivV8ifvjGc
[MaxwellBuchanan, May 30 2014]

Kite buggy http://www.powerkit...peterlynncompxr.htm
Steer with your feet, control the power with your hands. Perfect. [neutrinos_shadow, Jun 03 2014]

[link]






       Er, this is pretty much how motorcycles work. Most steering above walking pace is done by leaning, not by moving the handlebars.   

       This is, as you point out, how unicycles are steered. Bicycles are not much different.
8th of 7, Apr 19 2014
  

       You have ridden a motorcycle, Shirley? Any experienced rider can put their bike in third gear and steer with no hands. It's a very bad idea, but it can be done, and all of us have felt a little naughty and tried it once or twice.   

       WKTE
Alterother, Apr 19 2014
  

       i've ridden scooters not motorcycles.   

       breaking and acceleration happen with your hands, so i have NO CLUE what stupid bullshit you are both speaking about.   

       no, no motorcycles , or at least scooters are not ridden with your feet or with leaning. that is a very small part of the control.   

       also, the steering column is steered with your hands regardless of the leaning involved you need ot have your hands on the steering column as a matter of course on an ordinary motorcycles/scooter.   

       so you're both just being argumentative. pointlessly so.
teslaberry, Apr 20 2014
  

       Yeah guys, Jeez.   

       I have to say that from the title I was expecting something invented by Mr. Garrison.   

       If you didn't countersteer, you would entertain anyone with a view of the next corner you attempted, come to think of it. (Of course you could provide similar entertainment by trying to steer *in* to a corner at speed, too.)   

       But what about braking? If there are no handholds, breaking could get quite scary. And don't even think of trying a stoppie...   

       ... yes ...   

       ... and what's the point of riding a bike if you can't do wheelies and stoppies?
skoomphemph, Apr 20 2014
  

       // breaking (sic) and acceleration happen with your hands, so i have NO CLUE what stupid bullshit you are both speaking about. //   

       This stupid bullshit, moron:   

       // feet legs and pelvis steered motorcycle //   

       // you need ot have your hands on the steering column as a matter of course on an ordinary motorcycles/scooter. //   

       As I said before, no you don't. A motorcycle at speed can be steered without hands on the handlebars (or touching anything else).   

       At least learn to operate a machine before you go trying to improve it.
Alterother, Apr 20 2014
  

       I gave this idea considerable thought and GROG-style reason and analysis, and came to the following conclusion: I required another opinion. So, I asked the only other guy I knew who might have, as they say, "...skin in the game..."   

       I looked south of the border and asked Little GROG his opinion.   

       Little GROG left no doubt that he would very much like to see both hands on the handlebars at all times lest he and his two little brothers are ripped out by the roots and left hanging on said handlebars after crashing.   

       Besides that, what else would someone be doing with their free hands? Playing the guitar? Acting out the YMCA song?   

       So... [-]
Grogster, Apr 21 2014
  

       Having spent the day riding after a two week hiatus due to a wrist injury, I call unsportsmanlike language on the part of [teslaberry] and amusing yet improbable science on the part of the same.   

       I'd like to spare my wrist any further abuse but there aren't enough commandable appendages south of there (despite my wife's testimony) to make this idea fly.
normzone, Apr 21 2014
  

       what could someone be doing with their hands?   

       shooting with a gun, a shoulder fired missile or other aiming other weapon. ----   

       i was thinking of this specifically for military application.
teslaberry, Apr 21 2014
  

       Before we go any further, have you done any of these other things you're talking about here? Have you fired a gun? Have you taken a basic military tactics course?   

       I ask because your idea of soldiering (and motorcycle riding) seems to have come from old Schwarzenegger movies.
Alterother, Apr 21 2014
  

       // i have NO CLUE what stupid bullshit you are both speaking about//   

       See, she CAN capitalize.   

       //YMCA <acts out letters>// <link>
MaxwellBuchanan, May 30 2014
  

       // voice activated mobile phone would need to be mind controlled, probably in Russian. //   

       Would they still be able to fire the rearward-facing air-to-air missiles ?
8th of 7, May 30 2014
  

       //air-to-air missiles//   

       I've never really seen the point of those. Who wants to attack air?
MaxwellBuchanan, May 30 2014
  

       //'ve never really seen the point of those. Who wants to attack air?   

       Got bitten by an Airedale Terrier once, if that counts?
not_morrison_rm, Jun 02 2014
  

       //See, she CAN capitalize. //   

       Still a lost cause on categorization though.
the porpoise, Jun 03 2014
  

       ... amongst many other things.   

       // Got bitten by an Airedale Terrier once //   

       Unlikely. Multiple wounds are characteristic of terriers. One bite is never enough. It's bulldogs that "bite and hold".   

       // if that counts? //   

       No.   

       // old Schwarzenegger movies. //   

       He's 66 ... admittedly a little long in the tooth for an action hero (Altho Christopher Lee made a pretty good job of Count Dooku at age 80).   

       // your idea of soldiering (and motorcycle riding) seems to have come from old Schwarzenegger movies. //   

       Probably still better than from young DiCaprio movies ... (The Aviator <sound of grinding teeth> )
8th of 7, Jun 03 2014
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle