Omni-directional motorcycle: SDS

Motorcycle design has just become a little freaky thanks to a new concept called the SDS electric motorcyle, under development by students at the San Jose State University in the USA.

SDS, or Spherical Drive System electric motorcycle, is a concept bike that looks like it belongs in a science fiction movie, making use of two large spheres instead of traditional wheels. It uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to remain upright and its creators claim it operates just like a regular motorcycle.

However on top of the regulars - twist-grip throttle, brakes and handlebars - the SDS electric motorcycle has an extra set of joysticks that increase manoeuvrability, allowing the bike to rotate on the spot, strafe sideways or reverse.

In an interview with tech website Gizmag, team leader on the SDS project Max Ratner said the vehicle can lean around corners like a regular motorcycle, but is more manoeuvrable in tighter situations, and is propelled in a unique manner.

"The motorcycle operates on a friction-based drive system that directly drives the surface of the sphere with custom manufactured omniwheels, attached to Animatics motors. The method for balancing the motorcycle is similar to a Segway in that it uses accelerometers and gyros for detecting the pitch angle and correcting for any displacement from vertical."

The futuristic design is held together by a custom made stainless steel frame and uses Fox racing shocks to absorb bumps. The suspension system will be crucial because the 'spherical' wheels are carbon-fibre/fiberglass shells, with a rubber coating for added grip, doing with the extra cushioning of an air-filled tyre. These are a pair of balls you don't want to break...

Slung in the belly of the frame is a larger Lithium Iron Magnesium Phosphate battery pack that powers the bike's six electric motors - three per sphere to deliver omni-directional motive force - and the next step will be to design a fairing to conceal the bike's innards.

The designers appear to angling towards a sports bike design, which can be seen in the computer generated images.

The first goal for the team of 14 students at the San Jose State University working on the SDS electric bike is to achieve vehicle stability and rider control at around 15km/h. However the team admits that there's enough power from the half dozen micro motors to reach speeds of roughly 100km/h.