As the weather takes a whacky turn for the worst -- these freezing temperatures are less than ideal -- students might be looking for a speedier way to get around campus. Sure, they could hop on a bicycle, scooter, or maybe even a Segway, but how about a self-balancing electric unicycle? Who knows? When students return to MIT for the spring semester, they might be seeing a new form of transportation sprouting up around campus.
Student Stephen Boyer has built his own electric unicycle, which he’s dubbed the “Bullet.” According to Engadget, “the single-wheel transporter packs a custom MIG-welded steel body, two 7AH 12-bolt batteries, an ATmega328 chip and a 450-watt electric motor.” Quite frankly, I don’t know what any of that means, but what I do know is that it looks super cool...and super nerdy.
Since it can only travel at 15 mph max, “Bullet” might not be the best name for the unicycle. Compared to its $25,000 competition, Ryno Motors, however, our guess is that Boyer could be selling his creation for quite the pretty penny. The Ryno doesn’t travel any faster than 15 mph either, and at least the Bullet can travel up to five miles on a single charge.
Boyer is currently working out some kinks in the system, but the computer science major has left some riding tips on his website, like, “Don’t let go of the safety switch unless you crash,” and, “Bumps in the terrain are always bigger than they appear.” Boyer claims that the unicycle is the primary way he navigates around MIT and Cambridge. Although the Bullet is heavy, built with a steel frame, its small size allows him to carry it onto a bus or train.
To see the Bullet in action, check out the video below --
