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London team puts together riderless bike prototype

What about potholes? Who’ll pick it up should it fall over?

We often report on driverless cars. London-based startup, Sparky Automotive, has reportedly now produced a prototype riderless bike.

Green Car Congress reports that Sparky was initially working on a three-door electric hatchback, but has since switched its focus. The firm’s technical director, Martin Langley, suggests that riderless bikes could be employed to collect goods and make deliveries.

“If you think about it, controlling an electric bike remotely is not really very different from controlling a drone. There is also the advantage that nobody is irritatingly overflown by a road bike so licensing is simplified too.

“After some thought we also realised that there are a surprising number of uses for a device like this. Simple examples being collection of shopping for the elderly and disabled, and rapid delivery of small packages without the expense of a driver.”

Sparky Automotive says the vehicle would be controlled remotely. Handlebar-mounted cameras would upload video via a wireless internet connection to ‘virtual riders’ who would operate the bike’s servos to control speed and direction.

The bike would also employ electronic gyroscope technology similar to that used in a Segway and the prototype is said to be able to negotiate traffic lights, junctions and pedestrian crossings all on its own.

The project conjures images of autonomous bikes effortlessly gliding around – much like those seen in last year’s striking riderless bike video by Cycling Canada from which the image accompanying this article was taken. The photo we’ve seen used in other sites’ news stories about the prototype looks rather less stylish.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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9 comments

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imagesurgery | 7 years ago
0 likes

Finally that ol' headline 'Car Hits Bike' will be factually correct.

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Team Rux | 8 years ago
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DaveE128 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Why??? Jusy why? So many ways that are easier to make an autonomous vehicle than a self-balancing two-wheeler.

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bsknight | 8 years ago
0 likes

Sound's interresting, but will it be able to jump red lights and ride on the pavement like a proper cyclist?  

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Dr. Ko replied to bsknight | 8 years ago
1 like

bsknight wrote:

Sound's interresting, but will it be able to jump red lights and ride on the pavement like a proper cyclist?  

You may need to hack the software first yes

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TheSpaniard | 8 years ago
8 likes

Is this just to piss off the driverless car owners?

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Griffsters | 8 years ago
15 likes

My initial thoughts are that you are about a week early with this story.

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jazzdude replied to Griffsters | 8 years ago
0 likes

Griffsters wrote:

My initial thoughts are that you are about a week early with this story.

 

Yep!  http://www.bicycling.com/culture/advocacy/riderless-bikes-head-out-spin

 

@0:50

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flathunt | 8 years ago
0 likes

Expect Strava to fill up accordingly.

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