The Ryno microcycle
It goes most places where a person can walk or ride a bike – eg pavements -- and you don't even require a throttle: movement works off sensors. Total weight is 72.5kgHere’s an electric unicycle with some spunk – the Ryno. The microcycle, out of Beaverton, Oregon, tracks on a 25-inch motorcycle tyre and uses a combination of gyroscope sensors and accelerometers to balance itself. And it looks kind of cool.
There’s no throttle per se, but instead movement is initiated by leaning forward as you would on a Segway. Leaning forward on the handlebars forces the sensor-balanced wheel to adjust its position for balance, which propels you forward up to a top speed of around 16km/h. Braking is as easy as leaning back, and there’s also a hand brake too. It’s quite intuitive, and easy to get the hang of according to gadget-type publications in America.
To test its self-balancing skills, the team from www.wired.com turned the Ryno on with no-one seated on it and then tried to push down as hard as they could on the handlebars while standing in front of it. It didn’t even budge as the gyro and motion sensors kicked in.
The Ryno can handle 20 per cent inclines, and charge time is about six hours. That’s a range of about one hour per charge at top speed.
Weight is about 72.5kg, with the wheel and motor portion accounting for most of that. So it’s bottom heavy – just the way you want it. The seat and frame are made from a combination of CNC tube benders and 3D-printed parts.
How do you park it? The front of the vehicle’s frame comes together in a rubber bar, and simply tipping the vehicle forward rests it on that bar. Footpegs also fold out from the sides of the tyre, which you can choose to use or go without.
Has it got the gravitas to become a mainstream transportation vehicle? Ryno thinks so, and the company is currently doing the rounds of America trying to drum up support with local jurisdictions.
And in Australia, one for parking inspectors?
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