Uno (dicycle) facts for kids
Imagine a motorcycle that balances itself and can even transform! The Uno is a super cool electric vehicle that uses two wheels placed side-by-side, much like a dicycle. Later, the Uno III model added a third wheel, allowing it to change into a tricycle for different ways to ride. It's a clever invention designed to be both fun and friendly to our planet.
Discovering the Uno: A Self-Balancing Electric Ride
The Uno is an innovative electric vehicle. It's known for its unique self-balancing ability. This means it can stay upright on its own, making it easier to ride. It combines the excitement of a motorcycle with advanced technology.
How the Uno Works: Clever Balance and Steering
The Uno uses smart technology to keep itself balanced. It senses how the rider moves and adjusts to stay upright. This makes riding feel smooth and futuristic.
Riding the Original Uno Dicycle
On the original Uno, you control your speed by shifting your body weight. If you lean forward, the Uno speeds up to keep its balance. If you lean back, it slows down. To steer, you move your body from side to side. The vehicle detects this movement and slightly raises one of its two wheels. This tilt helps you turn in the direction you want to go. It's a very intuitive way to ride!
The Amazing Transforming Uno III
The Uno III offers two exciting ways to ride: as a dicycle or as a tricycle. In its dicycle mode, it works much like the original Uno. You can still use your body weight to control acceleration. However, the Uno III also includes a hand throttle for speeding up and braking. For steering, instead of leaning, you use a rotating handlebar. The most amazing feature is its ability to transform! While you are riding, the Uno III can change from its compact dicycle form into a stable tricycle. This transformation makes it even more versatile and safe.
The Uno's Journey: From Idea to Innovation
The Uno's story is an inspiring example of how a great idea can become a real invention. It all started with a young inventor's vision for a better future.
A Teenager's Eco-Friendly Dream
The idea for the Uno came from Ben Gulak, a teenager from Milton, Ontario, Canada. In 2006, after a trip to China, he saw a lot of smog caused by many small vehicles. He wanted to create an eco-friendly way to get around. His goal was to build a vehicle that was clean and didn't pollute the air.
Building the Prototype: Challenges and Solutions
Ben's first designs were simple. He used an angle-iron frame, wheelchair motors, batteries, and special balancing devices called gyroscopes. His very first test-ride was quite scary! He crashed and even chipped his kneecap. There were other early problems too, like electrical fires. To help solve these challenges, Trevor Blackwell, a robotics expert from California, joined the team. Blackwell had experience with similar self-balancing vehicles. Together, they worked to improve the Uno's gyro control system. This system helps the vehicle balance and move smoothly. Ben then used these improved plans to build a working prototype. He got help from engineer Werner Poss, Veltronics Ltd., John Cosentini, and research partner Jason Morrow.
The Uno Unveiled: Awards and Development
The Uno was first shown to the public at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show in 2008. It quickly gained attention for its innovative design. It even won a Top-10 prize on Popular Science magazine's list of 2008 Invention Awards. Ben Gulak also presented his idea on the CBC TV show Dragons' Den. On the show, he secured some investment to help develop the Uno further. Later, Ben's company, BPG Inc., developed the Uno III. This new model was designed to be safer and easier to use. It included the amazing ability to transform from a dicycle into a tricycle, even while being ridden!
See Also
- List of motorized trikes
- EUC
