4 ms·

Electric assist pogosticks, then? You heard it here first!

taneq 7y ago
I've often thought that self-balancing tech could make powered unicycles practical (moreso than the few attempts we've seen so far). I don't see why pogo sticks shouldn't join them! :D
- dTal 7y ago
  I would say there's more than a "few attempts" at powered unicycles - it's an entire industry, complete with expensive brands, cheap Chinese offerings, enthusiast forums, and listicles with titles like "top 10 electric unicycles to buy in 2019". The design has pretty much converged now. I was considering getting one for my daily commute, but a part of me fears that no matter how skilled I got with it, riding over rough ground would still be a risky business. One pothole and your face is in the dirt. What would you change about current EUCs to make them more practical?
  - taneq 7y ago
    All of the ones I'm aware of balance front/back only, and still require quite a lot of skill to ride. I want to build one which can steer the wheel (using the mass of the rider as reaction mass) as well as spin it forwards/backwards, and so it can fully balance itself and rider.
  - IronBacon 7y ago
    I would love to have one of the Honda unicycle used in the Ok Go video (I won't let you down?), but I would never dare to try it on public streets... Edit: they are called UNI-CUB https://global.honda/innovation/robotics/UNI-CUB.html https://global.honda/innovation/robotics/UNI-CUB.html
arethuza 7y ago
Presumably with Autopogo so you can have a nap or read HN while pogoing about? Edit: Could we have self-pogoing pogo sticks that could come and pick me up? What a bright future we have waiting for us. Edit2: What about delivering pogo sticks by drone?
- inflatableDodo 7y ago
  >Edit2: What about delivering pogo sticks by drone? Bruce Sterling did this already in the book 'Distraction'. He also had off-road vehicles with loads of pogostick legs. edit - just re-read, did you mean pogo-stick drones that do delivery, or drones that deliver pogo-sticks? I went with the former, but am now not sure that is what you meant.
- cpfohl 7y ago
  Headline: Unicyclist seen _cutting off_ Autopogo model L for going too slow in bike lane!
- froindt 7y ago
  Autopogo reminds me of the shoes which will walk you home automatically from the TV show Red Dwarf. Season 2 Episode 5, can't find the video snippet online quickly, but here's the transcript. Read with a British accent if you're unfamiliar with the show! https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3duthb/smart_shoes/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3duthb/smart_shoes/
- microtherion 7y ago
  And if the technology is not quite ready yet, you can always pre-sell a "Full Self Pogoing" option.
  - arethuza 7y ago
    Yes, apparently the built-in hardware is sufficient and its just a software upgrade.
logicallee 7y ago
Regenerative braking with 90% energy recovery. You'll need it too because the ride is stop and go all the way.
- antisemiotic 7y ago
  Mechano-elastic regenerative braking utilizing 100% recyclable aluminium!
teddyh 7y ago
Didn’t Doctor Snuggles always use to travel by automated pogo stick?
intrasight 7y ago
When I was a frosh at CMU (1983) and working in the robotics lab, the lab next door was Marc Raibert's, and when his hopping robot was operating, everyone knew it. That thing was LOUD. http://www.robothalloffame.org/inductees/08inductees/raibert.html http://www.robothalloffame.org/inductees/08inductees/raibert...
CaptainZapp 7y ago
Only when they come with AI and are cloud based.

I've often thought that self-balancing tech could make powered unicycles practical (moreso than the few attempts we've seen so far). I don't see why pogo sticks shouldn't join them! :D

dTal 7y ago
I would say there's more than a "few attempts" at powered unicycles - it's an entire industry, complete with expensive brands, cheap Chinese offerings, enthusiast forums, and listicles with titles like "top 10 electric unicycles to buy in 2019". The design has pretty much converged now. I was considering getting one for my daily commute, but a part of me fears that no matter how skilled I got with it, riding over rough ground would still be a risky business. One pothole and your face is in the dirt. What would you change about current EUCs to make them more practical?
- taneq 7y ago
  All of the ones I'm aware of balance front/back only, and still require quite a lot of skill to ride. I want to build one which can steer the wheel (using the mass of the rider as reaction mass) as well as spin it forwards/backwards, and so it can fully balance itself and rider.
- IronBacon 7y ago
  I would love to have one of the Honda unicycle used in the Ok Go video (I won't let you down?), but I would never dare to try it on public streets... Edit: they are called UNI-CUB https://global.honda/innovation/robotics/UNI-CUB.html https://global.honda/innovation/robotics/UNI-CUB.html

arethuza 7y ago

Presumably with Autopogo so you can have a nap or read HN while pogoing about? Edit: Could we have self-pogoing pogo sticks that could come and pick me up? What a bright future we have waiting for us. Edit2: What about delivering pogo sticks by drone?

inflatableDodo 7y ago
>Edit2: What about delivering pogo sticks by drone? Bruce Sterling did this already in the book 'Distraction'. He also had off-road vehicles with loads of pogostick legs. edit - just re-read, did you mean pogo-stick drones that do delivery, or drones that deliver pogo-sticks? I went with the former, but am now not sure that is what you meant.
cpfohl 7y ago
Headline: Unicyclist seen _cutting off_ Autopogo model L for going too slow in bike lane!
froindt 7y ago
Autopogo reminds me of the shoes which will walk you home automatically from the TV show Red Dwarf. Season 2 Episode 5, can't find the video snippet online quickly, but here's the transcript. Read with a British accent if you're unfamiliar with the show! https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3duthb/smart_shoes/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3duthb/smart_shoes/
microtherion 7y ago
And if the technology is not quite ready yet, you can always pre-sell a "Full Self Pogoing" option.
- arethuza 7y ago
  Yes, apparently the built-in hardware is sufficient and its just a software upgrade.

logicallee 7y ago

Regenerative braking with 90% energy recovery. You'll need it too because the ride is stop and go all the way.

antisemiotic 7y ago
Mechano-elastic regenerative braking utilizing 100% recyclable aluminium!

teddyh 7y ago

Didn’t Doctor Snuggles always use to travel by automated pogo stick?

intrasight 7y ago

When I was a frosh at CMU (1983) and working in the robotics lab, the lab next door was Marc Raibert's, and when his hopping robot was operating, everyone knew it. That thing was LOUD. http://www.robothalloffame.org/inductees/08inductees/raibert.html http://www.robothalloffame.org/inductees/08inductees/raibert...

CaptainZapp 7y ago

Only when they come with AI and are cloud based.