FUCK the segway; I want this! - the Bombardier Embrio - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

phredgreen · 11-24-2003, 12:24 AM

Quote:

orginally found here: http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2003...l_1104vow.html

Hot Wheel
Dan Lienert

We love reading about new products and designs from Bombardier, mostly because besides building things like airplanes and subway cars, the privately held, Quebec-based company also builds fun stuff like Rotax karts, Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Bombardier ATVs, Sea-Doo sport boats and Johnson and Evinrude outboard engines.

No wonder, then, that they have produced an exciting answer to the Segway Human Transporter. Like the Segway, Bombardier's Embrio concept--a prototype that may or may not make production--uses gyroscope technology to balance riders but adds a dash of flair absent in the Segway, which we as car nuts find slightly nerdy.

The Embrio concept also uses one less wheel than the Segway and will attract, Bombardier hopes, a younger demographic. The vehicle is designed as a guess at what transportation in the year 2025 might look like.

It is a fascinating idea because it combines the simplicity and alternative-fuel technology of forward-thinking commuting vehicles with the excitement of "recreational" products like ATVs. Indeed, the Embrio could attract people who drive a more fun sort of vehicle, what with its motorcycle-derived styling cues and, like an ATV, the fact that you have to lean in order to turn.

The Embrio is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, a technology that creates power by mixing hydrogen and oxygen, ideally resulting in water as the only exhaust. Carmakers are also developing this technology for automobiles, and General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ) stands by its plan to sell hydrogen cars by 2010.

The Embrio also borrows several other advanced technologies from cars, like infrared night vision and an active suspension, which can vary its damping rates based on road conditions. Its riding position resembles that of a motorcycle, and it balances one or more passengers with a network of sensors and gyroscopes. To move the Embrio, you use an accelerator trigger on the left handlebar and a brake trigger on the right.

The vehicle is made of lightweight materials, like aluminum, magnesium and nylon. It weighs only 360 pounds.

Although Bombardier says the gyroscopes are enough to balance the Embrio, the vehicle is also kept longitudinally stable by a smaller wheel that operates like an airplane's landing gear. It touches the ground when the vehicle is stopped or just starting. Once the Embrio is in motion, the landing gear will retract when the vehicle reaches about 12 mph. During braking, the gear redeploys when the vehicle slows to 12 mph.

link to official release from bombardier: http://www.recreation.bombardier.com...spx?press=2005

has anyone seen vampire hunter d: bloodlust? ever since watching that i've known i've wanted one, now here they are. so so so so cool.

GakFace · 11-24-2003, 12:46 AM

Damn, I want one of these. Looks like a lot of fun.

Snakebyt · 11-24-2003, 05:44 AM

that would be so much cooler than a segway

Cynthetiq · 11-24-2003, 06:56 AM

for some reason I thought of this...crotch rockets for the elderly.

they look really cool

JStrider · 11-24-2003, 08:26 AM

thats pretty cool... the front looks goofy tho...

but i always loved the vehicle the chick drove in vampire hunter d bloodlust...

Scorps · 11-24-2003, 09:55 AM

Smaller then that sagway junk and looks like loads for fun

Snoogans · 11-24-2003, 09:57 AM

That is so fucking awesome! I need to own it.

ARTelevision · 11-24-2003, 10:02 AM

It's pretty cool but a horse is good for that sort of thing, too...

BoCo · 11-24-2003, 10:23 AM

I want one. Tons better than a Seg-gay.

Stare At The Sun · 11-24-2003, 10:48 AM

Yeah, it reminds me of D too...very cool!

Gnzo · 11-24-2003, 10:53 AM

that's sweet!

Moonduck · 11-24-2003, 03:06 PM

Cool!

Esoteric · 11-24-2003, 05:45 PM

That is pretty damn dope.

sky_driver · 11-24-2003, 06:08 PM

If I win the lottery, I will buy one.

Drider_it · 11-24-2003, 07:19 PM

ahh a shield.. fuckin a' a shield in the front.. woot can we say tank police??!!?? lol

anyways.. yeah i want one but black and blood red with a daemon on the shield.. yeah i get one of those its going straight to a body shop for a make over paint job.. screw the price

gump · 11-24-2003, 07:40 PM

i want to see one in action. cool idea tho

yellowgowild · 11-24-2003, 08:52 PM

I love it but I only have one question.... How does it turn? By leaning?

-edit
"To turn, the rider leans in the desired direction."- from the site.
I still don't see how unless the wheel isn't rotating on a fixed axis.

GSRIDER · 11-25-2003, 08:33 AM

No if it was highway legal..... that would be insane.

Tech · 11-25-2003, 11:28 AM

it only goes 12 mph, i doubt it would be highway legal.

i say give me a damn bicycle. while this technology is cool, this and the segway are basically alternatives for going short distances at moderate speeds. it's not a replacement for a car, but basically if these things take over, no one will walk or ride their bike anywhere, they'll just hop on their little personal transport and get fatter and fatter.

but that's just my $.02

phredgreen · 11-25-2003, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tech
it only goes 12 mph, i doubt it would be highway legal.

for those who care to <i>read the damn article</i>, you will see that it says that it lowers its front wheels when it decelerates past 12 mph for saftey reasons, the retracts it again when you've accelerated past 12 mph.

Redlemon · 11-25-2003, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tech
it only goes 12 mph, i doubt it would be highway legal.

12 mph is the speed at which the extra wheel retracts. Max speed wasn't mentioned in the article.

tfin · 11-25-2003, 01:39 PM

It looks cool. But calling it the embrio? What is the next gen of these things going to be called. The Fetus? This just leads to a whole line of bad jokes.

Hey Bob, your embrio is leaking. OH, my water must have broke, I have to go.

Hey Jim, there is a puddle under your Fetus. Oh that, that is just the after birth. It always happens after you ride it.

Tech · 11-25-2003, 03:10 PM

my bad

spived2 · 11-25-2003, 03:19 PM

I think it's a great concept. Probably not the most practical design, but i'm sure it will evolve into something we all might be riding some day, which is their intent in the first place

11-24-2003, 12:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	Damn, I want one of these. Looks like a lot of fun. __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

11-24-2003, 06:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	for some reason I thought of this...crotch rockets for the elderly. they look really cool __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

11-24-2003, 08:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	thats pretty cool... the front looks goofy tho... but i always loved the vehicle the chick drove in vampire hunter d bloodlust... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

11-24-2003, 09:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	Smaller then that sagway junk and looks like loads for fun __________________ A.K.A. PainTrain

11-24-2003, 09:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Snoogans Veteran Location: Uppsala, Sweden	That is so fucking awesome! I need to own it. __________________ Internet hint: If someone's asking if what they do is weird, it always is.

11-24-2003, 05:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snakebyt Psycho Location: Lubbock Texas	that would be so much cooler than a segway

11-24-2003, 10:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	It's pretty cool but a horse is good for that sort of thing, too... __________________ create evolution

11-24-2003, 10:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
BoCo Fear the bunny Location: Hanging off the tip of the Right Wing	I want one. Tons better than a Seg-gay. __________________ Activism is a way for useless people to feel important.

11-24-2003, 10:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	Yeah, it reminds me of D too...very cool!

11-24-2003, 10:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
Gnzo Insane	that's sweet!

11-24-2003, 03:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Moonduck Junkie Location: SE USA	Cool!

11-24-2003, 05:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Esoteric Tired Location: Florida	That is pretty damn dope. __________________ From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch Made a date with Divinity, but she wouldn't let me fuck I got touched by a hazy shaded, God help me change Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

11-24-2003, 06:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
sky_driver Insane	If I win the lottery, I will buy one.

11-24-2003, 07:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
Drider_it Junkie Location: Louisiana	ahh a shield.. fuckin a' a shield in the front.. woot can we say tank police??!!?? lol anyways.. yeah i want one but black and blood red with a daemon on the shield.. yeah i get one of those its going straight to a body shop for a make over paint job.. screw the price __________________ It means only one thing, and everything: Cut. Once committed to fight, Cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. The lines are a portrayal of the dance. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resoultely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depth of his spirit. It is the balance to life: death. It is the dance with death. It is the law a war wizard lives by, or he dies.

11-24-2003, 07:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
gump Addict Location: TN	i want to see one in action. cool idea tho

11-25-2003, 08:33 AM	#18 (permalink)
GSRIDER spurt king Location: Out of my mind	No if it was highway legal..... that would be insane. __________________ No signature at this time.

11-25-2003, 03:10 PM	#23 (permalink)
Tech Addict Location: Baltimore MD	my bad __________________ -Tim- ~I swear sometimes i feel like i'm married to a child. ~You better watch who you're calling a child, Lois, cause if i'm a child than you know what that makes you? a pedophile. and i'll be damned if i'm going to stand here and be lectured by a pervert.

11-25-2003, 03:19 PM	#24 (permalink)
spived2 Desert Rat Location: Arizona	I think it's a great concept. Probably not the most practical design, but i'm sure it will evolve into something we all might be riding some day, which is their intent in the first place __________________ "This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - V

11-24-2003, 08:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
yellowgowild Psycho Location: Tampa	I love it but I only have one question.... How does it turn? By leaning? -edit "To turn, the rider leans in the desired direction."- from the site. I still don't see how unless the wheel isn't rotating on a fixed axis. Last edited by yellowgowild; 11-24-2003 at 08:55 PM..

11-25-2003, 11:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
Tech Addict Location: Baltimore MD	it only goes 12 mph, i doubt it would be highway legal. i say give me a damn bicycle. while this technology is cool, this and the segway are basically alternatives for going short distances at moderate speeds. it's not a replacement for a car, but basically if these things take over, no one will walk or ride their bike anywhere, they'll just hop on their little personal transport and get fatter and fatter. but that's just my $.02 __________________ -Tim- ~I swear sometimes i feel like i'm married to a child. ~You better watch who you're calling a child, Lois, cause if i'm a child than you know what that makes you? a pedophile. and i'll be damned if i'm going to stand here and be lectured by a pervert.

11-25-2003, 01:39 PM	#22 (permalink)
tfin Insane Location: At the Casino	It looks cool. But calling it the embrio? What is the next gen of these things going to be called. The Fetus? This just leads to a whole line of bad jokes. Hey Bob, your embrio is leaking. OH, my water must have broke, I have to go. Hey Jim, there is a puddle under your Fetus. Oh that, that is just the after birth. It always happens after you ride it. __________________ Did I mention that I can't spell or type? Oh yeah, check out my car www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=275916