AUTONEWS

A very crazy bike in the Guinness Book

Students at Duke University in North Carolina, United States of America, produced a curious mono-wheeled vehicle, capable of moving by its own means and equipped with what appear to be the usual controls. But they don't want to stop there: they intend to win a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
The Duke Monowheel, designed by the Team EV360, was designed to reach a speed of 70 miles per hour, about 112.6 km / h. If it reaches this threshold, it will be able to beat the current record for this type of vehicle, currently set at 98.464 km / h, thus entering in its own right for Guinness.
The video records a very advanced phase of the tests, with the mono-wheel revealing some instability, which should have already caused several falls to the driver, one of which was captured for posterity. Everything would be easier if the model used gyroscopes that kept the bike straight, as with the Segway, but that would drive up costs and probably fall outside the scope of the course (and the budget) for young people.
With only one wheel with a very generous radius, Duke's vehicle allows for a traditional driving position, also using the same type of controls. The engine is electric, transmitting the force to the outer part of the rim, since the inner part is structural and forms an integral part of the vehicle frame. Balance seems more problematic, but as speed increases, it should become easier. It increases the balance, but also the likelihood of the driver being injured if something goes wrong…